HONG KONG: Around 50 pro-democratic activists were arrested in Hong Kong on Wednesday. According to the local media report, the activists were arrested for breaking the city’s national security law.
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Former lawmakers James To, Lam Cheuk Ting, and Lester Shum, and other democratic figures were arrested in the Asian financial hub. The Hong Kong city police have not given any official statements yet. The police arrested the activists for participating in a ballot last year to select the democratic candidates for an upcoming election. The Hong Kong government had previously warned the activists as it is considered a violation as per the new law.
The security law was imposed by Beijing last year in June. In a statement, the party said, “The attempt to win a majority in the 70-seat city legislature, which some candidates said could be used to block government proposals and increase pressure for democratic reforms, has been seen as an act of subversion, in violation of the national security law.”
The full election for the legislative council has since been postponed. Hong Kong and Beijing officials believe that it is essential to plug gaping holes in national security defenses exposed by months of anti-government and anti-China protests that rocked the city in 2019.
