Law enforcement officials in Hong Kong arrested 15 of the city's high-profile pro-democracy activists.

The group is connected to 71-year-old multimedia tycoon Jimmy Lai and a number of notable lawmakers. They are accused of organizing unauthorized assemblies during last year's mass protests in the Chinese territory.

They are scheduled to appear in court next month. The government has not explained the high-profile arrests, however they come days after Beijing's most senior official in the city called for a new security law to cope with dissent.