Police Officers escort Jimmy Lai out of his House on April 18, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. The Hong Kong police have arrested 14 people involved in last years anti-government protest including pan-democrat lawmakers.

Foreign governments criticized the arrest of 15 Hong Kong democracy activists in a police sweep on charges of organizing and participating in anti-government protests last year.

The arrests on Saturday were the biggest crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement since the outbreak of mass protests last year.

The International Bar Association said the authorities should not encroach on human rights and the legal system must guard against any abuses of power when the world was preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic.

"The United States condemns the arrest of pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong," U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

"Beijing and its representatives in Hong Kong continue to take actions inconsistent with commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration that include transparency, the rule of law, and guarantees that Hong Kong will continue to 'enjoy a high degree of autonomy,'" he said.

The arrested supporters of the pro-democracy movement included Democratic Party founder and barrister Martin Lee, 81, millionaire publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai, 71, and former lawmaker and barrister Margaret Ng, 72.

Police said those arrested were aged between 24 and 81, and they were detained on charges of organizing and participating in "unlawful assemblies" on Aug. 18 and Oct. 1 and 20 last year.

Major and often violent demonstrations broke out across the former British colony on those days.

They were all due to appear in court on May 18. Police said more arrests were possible.

Some of those arrested were released on bail late on Saturday.

In Britain, a Foreign Office representative said the government expected any arrests and court procedures to be "conducted in a fair and transparent manner."