UN ‘alarmed’ by arrests under new Hong Kong law

HONG KONG/ GENEVA: The UN human rights office voiced concern on Friday that “vague and overly broad” provisions in Hong Kong’s new national security law may lead to activists being prosecuted in violation of fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression.

“We are alarmed that arrests are already being made under the law with immediate effect, when there is not full information and understanding of the scope of the offences,” UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said.

Hundreds were arrested at a protest on Wednesday and at least 10 have been charged under it, he said. In a post late on Thursday, prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law said that he has decided to advocate for Hong Kong from abroad and had left the city.

In what is sure to be seen as another ominous sign for Hong Kong’s freedoms, Zheng Yanxiong, a Communist Party cadre who became prominent during a 2011 clampdown on protesters in a south China village, will head a national security office in Hong Kong to be set up under the new law.