More than 50 pro-democracy politicians and campaigners have been arrested in Hong Kong under national security law, allegedly on charges of undermining ‘state power’ by holding primaries and saying they intended to win a majority of seats in the to win region’s election.
The drastic arrests on Wednesday morning took place without warning and shocked observers. This is the largest single arrest of people under the National Security Act (NSL).
Political parties affiliated with the dozens arrested said the move by police appeared to be linked to unofficial primary elections held by the Pan-Democrats in Hong Kong last year before the election. The election was eventually delayed by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for a year due to the pandemic.
Among those arrested were former lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting, Chu Hoi-dick and Leung Kwok-Hung, as well as co-organizers of the polls – lawyer Benny Tai and opinion pollster Robert Chung, whose office had been struck a few days before. .
At the time of the pre-election, the Hong Kong government claimed that it had received complaints that the election could “interfere and manipulate” the election and that candidates promised to win a majority of seats to block government bills that might violate the NSL. .
The primary polls, while not a formal part of Hong Kong’s election process, have attracted an estimated 600,000 people to vote for democracy candidates.
But Beijing’s top representatives in Hong Kong described the primary as “illegal” and accused organizers of collaborating with foreign powers in a “serious provocation” of Hong Kong’s electoral system.
“The aim of the organizer Benny Tai and the opposition camp is to seize the ruling power of Hong Kong and … carry out a Hong Kong version of ‘color revolution’,” said a spokesman for the Liaison Office, who ‘s chief is also in charge of implementing national security laws.
After the ballot box, Tai predicted that as many as 45 seats would be won by candidates for democracy, but he was wary of the setback of those in power.
“Everyone must be spiritually prepared.”
The law, drafted by Beijing, was enacted in June last year and criminalized secession, undermining, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers, including benevolent protests. As of Wednesday, about 35 people had been arrested under the law, and four had been charged, including media mogul Jimmy Lai. Prosecutors have been fighting to ensure no one is released on bail, suggesting someone charged with Wednesday’s raids is likely to be detained.
More to come.