Daily US Times: Plain-clothed police have detained a Hong Kong activist from near the US consulate in the territory. The UK-based activist group Friends of Hong Kong said, Tony Chung had planned to enter the consulate on Tuesday and claim asylum.

Mr Chung was arrested along with two other former members of a student pro-independence group.

The 19-year-old was the first public figure arrested under a controversial new national security law in July.

He was accused of being involved in an organisation that vowed to fight for an independent Hong Kong and later released on bail.

China imposed new national security law in June, which makes subversion of the central government, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces punishable by up to life in prison. Western governments hugely criticized the law, with critics saying it ends freedoms guaranteed for 50 years after British rule ended in Hong Kong in 1997.

After the law was introduced, number of pro-independence groups disbanded.

Tony Chung was at a coffee shop opposite the US consulate in Hong Kong when he was detained on Tuesday morning, according to the South China Morning Post.

Footage taken from near the consulate shows Mr Chung being carried away by people dressed in casual clothing.

Group Studentlocalism said three of its former members including Tony Chung were detained by officers at the scene, and police said the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation.

Hours after the arrests, media reports said four activists managed to enter the US consulate but were later turned away. The reports could not be independently varified.

You may read: China warns UK not to offer citizenship to Hong Kong residents