4 arrested under new Hong Kong security law for online posts

Hong Kong police have signaled their intent to implement a new Chinese nationwide security law strictly, arresting 4 youths Wednesday on suspicion of inciting secession by way of social media posts.

Three males and one feminine, aged 16 to 21, have been detained, a police official stated at an 11 p.m. information convention. All are believed to be college students.

“Our investigation showed that a group has recently announced on social media that they have set up an organization for Hong Kong independence,” stated Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of a newly shaped unit to implement the security law.

The 1-month-old law has chilled pro-democracy protesting as activists together with teachers and others surprise if their actions may very well be focused.

The central authorities in Beijing imposed the nationwide security law on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory after metropolis leaders have been unable to get one handed regionally. The transfer has raised fears that Hong Kong’s freedoms and native autonomy are being taken away.

Police didn’t determine the suspects or their group. An group known as Studentlocalism — which introduced it was disbanding simply earlier than the law took impact — stated on Facebook that 4 former members had been arrested on secession costs, together with ex-leader Tony Chung.

The police motion appeared to focus on the Initiative Independence Party, which says on its Facebook web page that it consists of former Studentlocalism members who’ve accomplished their research and are abroad.

The social gathering, which additionally posted the information of Wednesday’s arrests, advocates for independence as a result of it believes full democracy for Hong Kong is not possible under Chinese rule, its Facebook web page says.

Li stated solely that the group in query had arrange lately and that the posts have been made after the law took impact late on June 30.

“They said they want to establish a Hong Kong republic, and that they will unreservedly fight for it,” he stated. “They also said they want to unite all pro-independence groups in Hong Kong for this purpose.”

He warned anybody who thinks they will perform such crimes online to suppose twice.

Police have made a handful of different arrests under the new law, all of individuals collaborating in protests and chanting slogans or waving flags deemed to violate the law.

China promised Hong Kong would have its personal governing and authorized techniques under a “one country, two systems” precept till 2047, or 50 years after Britain handed again its former colony in 1997.

China, in justifying the new law, says points corresponding to separatism are a nationwide security concern and, as such, fall under its purview.

The newest arrests got here at some point after a number one determine in Hong Kong’s political opposition was fired from his college put up.

Hong Kong University’s council voted 18-2 to oust Benny Tai from his place as an affiliate law professor, native media reported.

Tai has been out on bail since being sentenced to 16 months in jail in April 2019 as certainly one of 9 leaders placed on trial for their half in 2014 protests for better democracy often known as the Umbrella Movement.

In a posting Wednesday on his Facebook account, Tai stated he meant to proceed writing and lecturing on authorized points and requested for public help.

“If we continue in our persistence, we will definitely see the revival of the rule of law in Hong Kong one day,” Tai wrote.

While the 2014 motion failed in its bid to develop democracy, protests returned final 12 months over a legislative proposal that may have allowed felony suspects to be extradited to face trial in mainland China.

Although the laws was ultimately shelved, protester calls for expanded to incorporate calls for democratic change and an investigation into alleged police abuses. They grew more and more violent within the second half of the 12 months.

In a press release issued after the vote to take away Tai, the Chinese authorities’s liaison workplace in Hong Kong stated it was “a punishment for evil doing.”