UK Math-rock Trio TTNG Detained By Police After Hong Kong Gig

British math-rock three-piece TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns) were held by Hong Kong police following a gig at city venue Hidden Agenda, according to reports coming out of the territory.

According to the Hong Kong Free Press, TTNG's members Henry Tremain, Tim Collis and Chris Collis, along with one of their support acts — US artist Mylets (aka Henry Kohen) — plus Hidden Agenda founder Hui Chung-wo and another staff member, were detained by authorities after Immigration Department officials raided the venue on Sunday night.

A report from the BBC suggests that there were concerns over the visas held by the international musicians, and that officials — who have confirmed the detentions to the British broadcaster — had claimed there were problems with their work permits. 

According to Hidden Agenda's own Facebook page, the venue was "alleged by the Immigration Department … to have hired illegal immigrants to perform amid allegations that there were some issues with the band's visa". 

"Authorities from the I.D tried to use force to arrest HA founder, HUI CHUNG WO," they wrote in a post attached to a photo of a handcuffed Hui. "Wo was hurt during their action. Soon, police arrived claiming there was a fight."

Hui and another staff member were charged with obstructing a police officer, while a third employee was charged with common assault. HKFP reports that people attending the gig — which also featured local outfit Emptybottles — claimed that two officials had bought tickets to attend and collect evidence against the space.

A photo posted to an unofficial Facebook fan page for the space shows Hui sitting on the ground with Immigration Department officers on the scene, while live-streamed video reportedly showed the international musicians being taken away in Immigration Department buses.

According to the BBC, it is understood the members of TTNG and Kohen have since been released by the department, though neither act has commented publicly on the incident.

Hidden Agenda's post claims "a large number" of police and immigration officers attended the venue, along with police dogs, as local news outlet RTHK reports. 

The space has had persistent licensing issues over its existence, HKFP reports, with the venue having been through four locations over its lifetime.

Its latest incarnation, located in an industrial building in Ngau Tau Kok, opened in December after a successful fundraising effort, though apparently received a warning in March for operating outside its official raison d'etre as a takeaway food outlet.