Hong Kong police have arrested more than 30 people on Wednesday for violating Hong Kong’s new national security law.
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The first to arrest was a man whose poster heralded “Hong Kong’s independence.” Under the new law passed by China on Tuesday, it faces severe prison sentences.
The new law prohibits destructive activities, secession, terrorism and covert cooperation with foreign forces. China, which passed the law by bypassing the Hong Kong legislature, says it is needed to restore stability in Hong Kong following protests by pro-democracy activists.
Opponents of the law fear that it will undermine Hong Kong’s political freedoms and reduce its autonomy, given that similar laws have been used to suppress protests in mainland China.
Beijing-backed Hong Kong Prime Minister Kerry Lama and other senior officials discussed the details of the new law at a press conference today. The Lama said he was pleased with the adoption of two important laws recently. One is the new Hong Kong National Security Law, and the other is a law that criminalizes the indecent treatment of the Chinese national anthem.
The Lama said the new law would protect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens, despite concerns to the contrary. “I still believe that the vast majority are law-abiding citizens who want stability and prosperity. The purpose of this law is to prevent, not just punish,” the Lama said.
Security Secretary John Lee said he wanted people to be aware of the seriousness of the violations and stressed that everyone should take it seriously. “Please don’t try to test our patience. Please don’t break the law,” he urged.
Under the new law, “serious offenders” could be sentenced to life imprisonment or at least ten years in prison. Minor offenses, such as chanting prohibited slogans and displaying posters, are punishable by three to ten years in prison. Police said on Monday they would deploy 3,000 to 5,000 police officers in Hong Kong on Wednesday in the event of riots.
This Wednesday marks 23 years since Britain handed over Hong Kong to China. The former British colony of Hong Kong, one of the world’s largest financial centers, has autonomous status and a different judicial system. Its citizens have more rights than the rest of communist-ruled China. This status of Hong Kong until 2047, or 50 years after its return to China, is determined by the London-Beijing agreement.
Hong Kong activists have vowed to protest despite no permission to hold a demonstration.
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