Those arrested range in age from 18 to 72 according to local broadcaster RTHK.

Among them was Daniel Wong, a lawyer who tried to help the 12 people that were detained in mainland China last August after Chinese authorities intercepted their boat, which was headed for Taiwan.

The group face charges related to anti government protests in the Chinese world city in 2019.

One wrote on Facebook that police arrived at his apartment at 6 a.m. Police later told Reuters they were still gathering information and could not make any immediate comment.

In late December, a Chinese court sentenced 10 off the 12 to between seven months and three years in prison for illegally crossing the border.