Hong Kong police arrested 53 pro-democracy activists and a U.S. citizen on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the community as they condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s use of Hong Kong’s version of the National Security Law to crack down on the public.
Hong Kong police deployed more than 1,000 police officers to search for 53 pro-democracy activists, including former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, on Wednesday morning.
Police said they arrested the 53 people on charges of subversion under the National Security Law.
Senior Superintendent Lee Kwai-wah of the National Security Division of the Hong Kong Police Force: “The purpose of last year’s primary election was different, they only had one goal, to disrupt the normal operation of the government.”
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp held a primary election in July last year, hoping to win more than half of the seats in September’s Legislative Council election, but the Hong Kong government later canceled the Legislative Council election on the grounds of an epidemic.
The Hong Kong pro-democracy camp held a press conference on Wednesday to demand the release of all those who were arrested, and said the arrests were “extremely ridiculous” and contrary to the Basic Law.
Civic Party Chairman Alan Leong: “To us, this is ridiculous.”
Hong Kong people are shocked and disappointed by the government’s action.
Hong Kong people MANNIE NG: “I am shocked by today’s news, I feel very disappointed.”
HONG KONG PEOPLE JAY LAM: “What I want now is to leave Hong Kong and move to other countries, yes, that’s what I think now.”
KEITH NG, Hong Kong resident: “I wouldn’t be surprised if one day you tell me that I had participated in the march and that I would be arrested.”
Hong Kong police on Wednesday also arrested Kwan Sheung-yee, a U.S. citizen who works at a law firm, on suspicion of subverting state power, police said.
Before getting into the car, Kwan Sheung-yee called for “continued struggle for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong.”
On the same day, three Hong Kong media offices, including Standpoint News, Hong Kong Apple Daily and Independent Media, were also visited by Hong Kong police who demanded that they hand over documents related to the Hong Kong state security law case.
Amnesty International and the Taiwan government condemned the Hong Kong government for suppressing human rights.
Amnesty International’s East Asia Regional Office Director Luo Zuhua: “It’s hard to see how holding an unofficial primary election to set election policy is a threat to national security.”
Executive President Su Tseng-chang: “The Chinese Communist Party should respect Hong Kong, and should stick to the promises it made back then. There should be no malicious suppression, and no terrorist tactics, which will only make the people more resentful.”
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