Hong Kong police arrest over 300 as new security law comes into force
MORE than 300 people were arrested as protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday to show their anger at a new national security law imposed by China.
Police said nine people were arrested for violating the law but gave no further details. Other offences included unlawful assembly, public disorder and traffic violations.
The protest was sparked by the law and comes as Hong Kong marks 23 years since its handover to China from British rule.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other top government officials in the Chinese-ruled city discussed details of the law at a press conference Wednesday, the first full day of its implementation.
Lam said that she was pleased by the recent passing of two important pieces of legislation that have stirred unrest: the new national security law as well as the National Anthem Law before that, which makes it an offence to mock the patriotic song.
Lam said the law would safeguard Hong Kong citizens rights and freedoms, despite fears to the contrary.
Secretary for Security John Lee said he wanted to ensure that people knew the gravity of offences and said that everyone should take it seriously.
The police announced that they would deploy between 3,000 and 5,000 officers in light of potential unrest on Wednesday.
Civil Human Rights Front, the group that organized the city’s largest protest marches over the last year, had vowed to go ahead with a banned march despite having no permit.
The national security law targets secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong. Critics say its purpose is to quash dissent in the financial hub, which has been roiled by protests for the past year.
Under the new law, “serious offenders” may face life imprisonment, or a fixed term of no less than 10 years.
Those engaged in minor actions - such as ag waving, slogan chanting or displaying banners - could face punishment of between three and 10 years in prison.
The law was gazetted into an annex of Hong Kong’s Basic Law late Tuesday after it was given the go-ahead at the end of a threeday deliberation by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, who voted unanimously to push the law ahead.
There are worries the law will further undermine the autonomy promised to Hong Kong under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle agreed by China and Britain to guarantee certain freedoms for the territory until 2047.