New security law bolsters anti-riot drive

Slogans ‘Liberate HK’ imply secessionism, splitting HK from China: city govt

In a move to clarify offenses that may breach the newly enacted national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a spokesperson with the HKSAR government said on Thursday that the slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time,” has the implications of secessionism, alienating HKSAR from China, changing HKSAR’s legal status or subverting the State power under the current circumstances.

The statement came after the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) announced Wednesday that around 370 illegal protesters were arrested on Wednesday,

10 of whom for allegedly violating the national security law for Hong Kong. Among those, several were arrested for showing materials with “Hong Kong Independence” slogans.

Some lawmakers, officials and legal experts consider some new measures that Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) adopted “a good start” as police officers could take decisive legal action in ending riots and chaos that have ravaged the city since last June. With the law enforcement mechanism under the national security law, police force would be further strengthened.

As the new law specifically targets four types of activities that endanger national security – acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security – the HKPF used the new purple warning flag to warn protesters who display flags or banners or chant slogans in support of secession or subversion for the first time on Wednesday. With the new department set up under the HKPF, which is designed to work with other newly formed local and central authorities, the police force capacity is expected to be further enhanced in order to end “black terror” across the city as protests continue.

Some officers, wearing jackets with an “N”, representing the new special unit under the Hong Kong Police Force to enforce law for national security cases, appeared in public for the first time on Wednesday.

Under the national security law, the HKPF shall establish a department for safeguarding national security with law enforcement capacity, which can recruit qualified professionals and technical personnel from outside the HKSAR to provide assistance in the performance of duties, including intelligence analysis over national security cases, conducting counter-interference investigation, and investigation offenses which endanger national security.

Hong Kong secretary for security John Lee said that the local law enforcement authority would have more information sharing and cooperation with the central government’s national security agencies in Hong Kong, and the HKPF will study the law, which would become “a reference of action.”

The slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time,” has the implications of secessionism, alienating HKSAR from China, changing HKSAR’s legal status or subverting the State power.