HK cops arrest 400 as citizens defy ban
HONG Kong: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered citizenship to Hong Kong residents as police in the territory made the first arrests under China’s draconian new security law.
Almost 400 protesters were arrested, including 10 for breaching the new anti-independence law, as demonstrators defied Beijing’s ban on gatherings to mark the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover to China by Britain on July 1, 1997.
Beijing’s crackdown has prompted worldwide condemnation. Mr Johnson told the British parliament the law “constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British joint declaration”.
He confirmed Britain would open a pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) passport holders. The move could affect nearly three million people.
Hong Kong is against the law,” security minister John Lee said.
However, many of those protesting chanted independence slogans, which is also now against the law.
“What this authoritarian regime wants to do is terrorise the people and stop them from coming out,” Chris To, a 49-yearold protester, said.
Opprobrium over the law poured in from critics and Western governments — led by the US and Britain — over fears they will usher in a new era of mainland-style political repression.
Washington has vowed unspecified counter-measures, but Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration for not doing enough. He said Mr Trump had “reassured China’s autocrats they have a like-minded partner in the White House”.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hailed the legislation as the “most important development” since the city’s return to Beijing’s rule.