Most of the detainees were either running in or organizing an unofficial primary in July last year to select opposition candidates for September’s legislative election, which the Hong Kong government later announced it wouldby a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many were popular district councilors who swept the election in November 2019, as the city was in the throes of anti-government protests.
American human rights lawyer John Clancey was among those arrested Wednesday, making him the first known U.S. citizen to be detained under the Hong Kong national security law. Clancey works for the Hong Kong law firm Ho, Tse, Wai & Partners, which was seen in video circulated on social media being raided by police during Wednesday's crackdown.
Under the Hong Kong national security law, which criminalizes anything the Chinese government regards as subervsion, secession, terrorism or colluding with foreign forces, those arrested could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison. MORE: Beijing tightens screws on Hong Kong as contentious new law goes into effect on handover anniversary
Emily Lau, a former Democratic Party lawmaker who was the first woman to be directly elected to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 1991, also weighed in on the latest detentions, calling them "disgraceful and ridiculous."
kerokero_HKer The World should say no to Tyranny! . Although facing the evil Chinazi, NationalSecurityLaw & PoliceBrutality, Hongkongers are not giving up! Sanction XiJinPing, CarrieLam, HKGov & CCP Officals! FreeHK SOSHK SAVE12HKYOUTHS StandWithHongKong AntiChinazi
hau_hk Hongkonger & our friends are under HumanitarianCrisis now :( Pls dont give up HK in this big crisis, HKer not surrender! Still fighting for justice, HumanRight & democracy! Dear world, StandWithHK! SOSHK FreeHK save12hkyouth HongKongNeedsHelp NationalSecurityLaw
This so called RuleOfLaw, freedom & democracy in the world class international financial centre Hong Kong where -there's no more election all current lawmakers were appointed -polling/primary is a breach of NationalSecurityLaw albeit it shouldn't even ve retrospective effect?
What they did is only to decide who would participate in the election. Clearly, with NationalSecurityLaw, China can arrest whoever they want in Hong Kong. Everything CCP dislikes could be “subversion”. We hope the free world will StandWithHongKong and bring CCP to justice.
Although compared with the 709CrackDown in China, the number of people arrested is relatively small, but this time it happened in a so-called democratic society, which is indeed shocking. This is actually a Hong Kong version of the crackdown.😣
National security law is an ungrounded law that covers almost everything. It is just a convenient weapon for the HK and CCP gov to attack the opposing parties.
kerokero_HKer Say no to Tyranny! . As a Hongkonger, my dream is simple but difficult.. So difficult for HK to have justice, HumanRight, liberty & democracy.. But We’re still fighting! save12hkyouths No PoliceBrutality, CCP Chinazi Totalitarianism! StandWithHongKong StandWithHK
ChoiHungGuLeung How evil can the Chinazi Tyranny be? . Hongkonger well knew CCP China & HKPolice HKGov are evil brutal Totalitarianism long ago.. HKer is still fighting, For justice, HumanRight & democracy! StandWithHK FreeHK SAVE12HKYOUTHS SOSHK SAVE12 StandWithHongKong
White Terror Under NationalSecurityLaw, all HongKongers are criminal
The worst is yet to come. The government is trying to spread the fear among the citizens. However, the act of intimidation can’t diminish Hongkongers’ desire for freedom and democracy.
Illegitimate arrest the primaries pro-democracy HKers, thus is outrageius under CCP's draconian NationalSecurityLaw. CCP wants to rule the world for its own interests at all cost only by faking Westerners to trade and renumerate CCP's totalitarian power. End CCP now!
please stand with not only Hong Kong but justice! CCP is evil to democracy and the world. Wu Han Lung virus have demonstrated that they export injustice and disaster to the world! We need to stop them!
It’s crazy! So those who voted in the election will be arrested!?
Unbelievable. So this is how CCPChina started 2021. More will come. Hold on and take good care of yourselves. The stronger the community, the weaker the powerfuls.
China makes HongKong silent!
outrageous...the world cannot turn a blind eye to such horrendous abuse of human rights in Hong Kong StandWithHongKong
Who cares? With the national security law, Communist China can arrest anyone. It could be Hong Kong activist, businessmen, or any foreign person or company. Just when CCP wants it.
The city is dying. They are ordinary people believing in and frighting for freedom and democracy. Please stand with us and take solid action.
Shocking! Outrageous! Anger! This is not Hong Kong! Hong Kong is dead! Every HongKongers will become the prisoners! No doubt! Release all immediately! StandWithHongKong forever! 😭😭😭😭😭
HK pro-democracy protesters are seriously oppressed by CCP. Some are silenced, some are fleeing in place w/ freedom & lobby for HK, some are detained w/o bail & some are jailed. But they all still fighting for HK freedom. Pls continue to support HK protesters. standwithhk
HongKong is the same as China now The lawyers could even be arrested for helping HongKongers StandWithHongKong
And just think, China will become more embolden since we now have a weak Joe Biden in office. The American voters are definitely not the brightest bulbs in the box. 🙄
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