Hong Kong Police arrested four people, the youngest at just 16, for alleged crimes under the city’s new national security law, the first arrests outside of street protests since the legislation took effect a month ago.
At a press conference shortly before midnight Wednesday, a police spokesman said the three men and one woman, all students, were suspected of being involved in an online group that vowed to use all means to fight. by an independent Hong Kong.
“They detained us for … subversions and for organization and also incitement [of] secession, “said Li Kwai-wah, police superintendent of the Hong Kong Department of Homeland Security.
“They wanted to unite all the independent groups in Hong Kong for the view of promoting the independence of Hong Kong“
Student Localism, a group that used to advocate for independence, said in a statement that its former leader Tony Chung, 19, was among those arrested.
Breaking: #Beijing organized its first major round of arrests under national security law tonight. Former coordinator of the dissolved @studentlocalism, Tony Chung, and two other former members, were arrested by #SecretPolice. “Tony has been followed for days. Pic.twitter.com/xi6jaX0T1J
– Joshua Wong 黃 之 鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf) July 29, 2020
Another former member who was arrested was identified by local politicians and media as Yanni Ho. Two others were not identified. The oldest person detained is 21 years old.
Last month, Student Localism announced that it had been dissolved when Beijing enacted its national security law, which prohibits secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
China considers Hong Kong Being an “inalienable” part of the country, making calls for independence anathema to the leaders of his Communist Party.
‘Rude misuse’
Beijing imposed the national security law on the semi-autonomous city territory on the eve of July 1, when it traditionally marks the 1997 delivery from Britain. ORIn the framework called “One country, two systems”, China is supposed to guarantee Hong Kong’s freedoms and lifestyle for at least 50 years.
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Beijing says the national security law is necessary to end the unrest and restore stability, and says it will not affect people’s political freedoms.
Human Rights Watch condemned the arrests and urged governments to impose targeted sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese government officials responsible for the new law.
“The misuse of this draconian law makes it clear that the goal is to silence dissent, not to protect national security,” said Sophie Richardson, China director of Human Rights Watch.
The law prohibits what Beijing freely defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
It has been condemned by some Western governments, business leaders, and human rights groups who say it is an attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip on China’s freest city. In response, they suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong and loosened migration rules for Hong Kong residents.
Beijing says the law is crucial to plug gaps in national security defenses exposed by months of sometimes violent anti-government protests that started in June 2019.
Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong They say the law will be used to attack only a minority of “troublemakers.”
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