The national security police of Hong Kong arrested six people across the city on Tuesday. This is under a new security law for alleged seditious intent. The people arrested include a pro-democracy barrister who is already behind bars.
Hong Kong accuses six of ‘advocating hatred’
Security Secretary Chris Tang said the six used a Facebook page to “advocate hatred” against the governments in Hong Kong and China. They took back control of the former British colony in 1997, and against the judiciary.
He said one of those arrested was Chow Hang Tung a prominent barrister and pro-democracy activist. Chow is in jail since September 2021. She is at a maximum-security women’s prison .
Hong Kong’s first arrests under new law
These were the first arrests under a new batch of national security laws that were passed by China in March. The arrests come despite criticism that an ongoing crackdown since 2020 has silenced dissent and shut down liberal media outlets. Critics argue that this has hurt the city’s economic prospects.
Govt argues law has restored stability to the country
The Hong Kong and Chinese governments say the national security legislation has restored stability to the city after months of sometimes violent pro-democracy street protests in 2019.
Chow allegedly used the five others to “publish posts with seditious intent.” The charge also alleges they had the “intention of inciting netizens to organise or participate in illegal activities in a later period.”
The offence carries a maximum jail term of seven years.
With inputs from Reuters
