Ms Chan was taken into custody by four plain-clothes police officers outside RTHK's headquarters in Broadcast Drive, after she'd taken part in a radio programme. The Hong Kong University student said her arrest had been carried out to scare off other activists. Ms Chan has been told to report back to a police station late next month.

Civic party lawmaker Alan Leong surprised the audience at a seminar, at Hong Kong University, on the deadlock in political reform by announcing news of Ms Chan's arrest. Mr Leong said her arrest was unnecessary and might be an effort to deter dissent.

Former chief secretary Anson Chan says she was astounded by news of Christina Chan's arrest, which people would immediately interpret as an attack on free speech. She said the government must act quickly before matters get out of hand.

Political scientist Michael DeGolyer said the way police conducted Christina Chan's arrest was foolish and risked stirring up reaction. Only moments before Ms Chan's detention was announced, Professor Degolyer had warned the conference on political reform of growing polarization and the potential for violence. He said her detention was unwise.