World

Mass arrests among Hong Kong pro-democracy camp

January 6, 2021 6:54 pm

About 50 pro-democracy activists and politicians have reportedly been arrested in Hong Kong’s biggest crackdown since the introduction of a controversial national security law.

The arrests are said to be linked to an independently organised primary vote.

Officers are also understood to have searched the house of the detained democracy activist Joshua Wong, raided a law firm and pressed news outlets to hand over information.

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It is unclear if the action is related.

Police have yet to comment on the various moves officially.

The Democratic Party’s Facebook page said the arrests were carried out under the security law imposed by Beijing on the territory last June in response to months of pro-democracy protests.

Among those detained are thought to be well-known opposition figures like James To, Lam Cheuk Ting, Lester Shum and Benny Tai, one of the initiators of the primaries.

According to local media reports, a US citizen working in Hong Kong as a lawyer on human rights cases has also been detained.