Hong Kong police arrested 53 pro-democracy activists during a raid on Wednesday. They are suspected of violating the national security legislation imposed by Beijing. They were all participants in the primary elections held last year and have been arrested in relation to an independently organised vote last July to select opposition candidates. As per authorities, the vote intended to “overthrow” the government.
About 1,000 police took part in the raids, which also included raids of offices of media outlets Apple Daily, Stand News, and Inmediahk. “The operation today targets the active elements who are suspected to be involved in the crime of overthrowing, or interfering seriously to destroy the Hong Kong government’s legal execution of duties,” Secretary for Security John Lee told Reuters. The arrests were confirmed by the Democratic Party and individual social media accounts of activists and politicians arrested. Biden’s pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Twitter, “The Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijing’s crackdown on democracy.”
Among the arrested activists include James To, Lam Cheuk-ting, Benny Tai and Lester Shum. among those arrested also include former lawmakers and people involved in organising the 2020 primary elections, which were eventually postponed. According to Lee, the elections were a move to try and "paralyze the Hong Kong government.”
Among those arrested, also include the 19 lawmakers who stepped down in December 2019 as a sign of protest after four pro-democracy lawmakers were disqualified from the Legislative Council.
Beijing has carried out a harsh crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. After it imposed the National security law in July, it detained several activists who tried fleeing Hong Kong via boat in December. In November, Joshua Wong and two other pro-democracy activists surrendered to the police on charges of starting protests outside a police station in 2019.
The US, in turn, has imposed sanctions on China and its leaders and several nations suspended extradition treaties with China. When the national security law was being imposed, Carrie Lam and other senior leaders had said that the law would have limited effect.
