Hong Kong Crackdown Intensifies With Mass Arrests Of Democracy Politicians And Activists

Robert Olsen Forbes Staff



Benny Tai, associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong and cofounder of activist group ... [+] ANTHONY KWAN/GETTY IMAGES

Hong Kong police arrested scores of pro-democracy politicians and activists Wednesday in the largest roundup yet under the national security law that was implemented six months ago.

Beijing introduced the law in response to protests that started with opposition to an extradition law but evolved to include demands for greater democracy. Many of the protests were marked by clashes between police and protesters.

Police targeted 53 people involved in organizing an informal primary runoff held last year to determine its candidates in an election for the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s law-making body. The election was later postponed, with officials citing safety concerns over the coronavirus pandemic as the reason.

Police reportedly said the arrests were made on suspicion of “subversion of state power” because the aim of last year’s primary was to win office and eventually force Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, to resign. Subversion carries a maximum punishment of life in prison.

Winning a majority in the Legislative Council polls would allow the democrats to veto legislation and the government’s budget. The Basic Law stipulates that the city’s leader can dissolve the Legislative Council if it refuses to pass a budget or other important legislation, but the city’s leader would have to resign if the new legislature also vetoes the budget and legislation.

All of the pro-democracy candidates in the unofficial primaries were arrested along with Benny Tai, a former law professor who organized the 79-day street occupation that paralyzed parts of Hong Kong in 2014. American lawyer John Clancey was also arrested. Clancey is the chairman of the Asian Human Rights Commission and the treasurer of political group which had been involved in the primaries.

Court orders were also reportedly issued to three local media outlets—Stand News, Apple Daily and InMedia—demanding that they surrender documents to assist with a national security investigation. Some news outlets had hosted election forums for the candidates that took part in last year's pro-democracy primaries.

More than 600,000 people participated in the primary of Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp last year, far exceeding the expected turnout of 170,000. The event was hailed at the time as a clear demonstration of Hong Kong people’s desire for democratic elections.

  

American lawyer John Clancey was also arrested.