Hong Kong Traps 47 Pro-Democracy Activists Violating National Security Laws

Illustration of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. (Elton Yung/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Hong Kong authorities charged 47 opposition activists with violating the city's National Security Act on Sunday, in the largest implementation of the law since it was imposed by Beijing last year.

If found guilty of "conspiracy to commit subversion", they could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Those charged were mostly former prominent parliamentarians, activists, and district councilors who were pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. They were arrested last January for organizing, planning and participating in the unofficial preliminary elections held by pro-democracy parties in July 2020.

The election, which was attended by around 600 thousand voters, aims to elect candidates who will participate in the Hong Kong Legislative Election. Of the 70 seats in the Hong Kong Parliament, the opposition is targeting to win 35 seats. The total number of those detained reached 53 people.

The 39 men and eight women charged Sunday, aged between 23 and 64, were detained and will appear before the Kowloon West Magistrate Court on Monday.

Benny Tai, professor of law at the University of Hong Kong and co-founder of the activist group Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP) reports to the Ma On Shan Police Station on February 28 in Hong Kong.

The charges on Sunday marked a major increase in the adoption of national security laws, previously only a handful of people had been prosecuted and brought to justice.

The law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers, and cases under the law can be handled by special branches of the Hong Kong police and national security courts.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam previously promised the law would be limited in effect and only target a small number of fringe activists.

The allegations come less than a week after the Hong Kong government moved to introduce new requirements for public officials, including that they pledge allegiance to and embrace Beijing's rule over the city.

The arrest of pro-democracy activists by Hong Kong police in January drew harsh criticism from Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State. Blinken said the massive arrests of pro-democracy protesters were an attack on those who bravely defended universal rights.

"The Biden-Harris administration will support the people of Hong Kong and oppose Beijing's crackdown on democracy," said Antony Blinken.

Separately, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab warned in January that the British government would not turn its back on when the rights and autonomy of the Hong Kong people were destroyed.

"When China first enacted the National Security Act, they said it was to bring stability to Hong Kong. What is clear about this action is that it is actually designed to crush political dissent," Raab told CNN.