HK MAKES FIRST SECURITY LAW ARRESTS AS PROTESTS ERUPT
Police use water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse crowd, 180 people arrested
HONG Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing’s new national security law yesterday as the anniversary of the city’s handover to China was met by thousands defying a protest ban.
Police deployed water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas, arresting more than 180 people, seven of them for breaching the new national security law.
This came a day after China imposed its controversial legislation on the restless city, a historic move decried by many Western governments as an unprecedented assault on the finance hub’s liberties and autonomy.
Beijing said the law would restore stability. But its imposition sparked the worst unrest seen in months.
Certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight, including showing support for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet independence. Many of those protesting yesterday chanted independence slogans.
Authorities in Taiwan opened a new office to deal with Hong Kongers seeking refuge.
Police said the first two national security arrests were for people possessing signs promoting independence.
“Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law,” Security Minister John Lee told reporters.
“What this authoritarian regime wants to do is to terrorise the people and stop them from coming out,” said protester Chris To, 49.
Opprobrium over the law poured in from critics and Western governments, led by the United States, over fears the law will usher in a new era of mainland-style political repression.
Under a deal ahead of the 1997 handover from Britain, authoritarian China guaranteed Hong Kong civil liberties as well as judicial and legislative autonomy until 2047 in a formula known as “One Country, Two Systems”.
“(China) promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people and gave them only 23,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as he promised countermeasures.
Beijing said foreign countries should keep quiet about the law, while Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hailed the legislation as the “most important development” since the city’s return to Beijing.
After huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year, authorities have shown zero tolerance for even peaceful rallies in recent months.
Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned under anti-coronavirus laws even though local transmissions have ended.
The July 1 anniversary has long been a polarising day in the city.
Beijing loyalists celebrate Hong Kong’s return to the Chinese motherland after a century and a half of what they consider humiliating colonial rule by Britain.
Yesterday morning, helicopters flew across Victoria Harbour carrying a large Chinese flag and a smaller Hong Kong pennant, while a barge appeared with a banner reading “Welcome the Enacting of the National Security Law” in giant Chinese characters.
Small groups of Beijing supporters waved Chinese flags in several neighbourhoods, untroubled by police.
Democracy advocates have long used the date to hold large rallies as popular anger towards Beijing swells, although this year’s event was banned for the first time in 17 years.