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Hong Kong: Dozens held as 'anti-protest' law kicks in on handover anniversary Hong Kong: First arrests under 'anti-protest' law as handover marked
(about 3 hours later)
Dozens of people have been arrested in Hong Kong, including a man carrying a pro-independence flag, after a new "anti-protest" law imposed by Beijing came into effect, officials say. Hong Kong police have made their first arrests under a new "anti-protest" law imposed by Beijing, as crowds marked 23 years since the end of British rule.
Police have used pepper spray to disperse some protesters gathered to mark 23 years since British rule ended. Police say two people were held for breaching the new law, including a man holding a pro-independence flag. Dozens of others were arrested during a rally.
The national security law targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments up to life in prison.The national security law targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments up to life in prison.
Critics say it stops some freedoms meant to be guaranteed by China. Activists say it erodes freedoms but China has dismissed the criticism.
Hong Kong's sovereignty was handed back to China by Britain in 1997, under an agreement designed to protect certain freedoms for at least 50 years. Hong Kong's sovereignty was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and certain rights were supposed to be guaranteed for at least 50 years under the "one country, two systems" agreement.
The annual pro-democracy march to mark the anniversary had been banned for the first time by authorities, who cited a bar on gatherings of more than 50 people because of Covid-19. On Wednesday, crowds gathered for the annual pro-democracy rally to mark the anniversary, defying a ban by authorities who cited restrictions on gatherings of more than 50 people because of Covid-19.
Police confronted a small group of demonstrators gathered in the city centre and at least 30 people were arrested for "unlawful assembly, violating the security law, obstructing police and possession of weapons". Police used water cannon and pepper spray on demonstrators and said at least 70 people had been arrested, two of them under the new security law.
Those arrested included a man carrying a "Hong Kong Independence" flag - protesters have been warned certain slogans and banners might constitute serious crimes under the new law. It said one of them included a man who was holding a "Hong Kong Independence" flag, though some Twitter users said the picture appeared to show a small "no to" written in front of the slogan, Reuters reported. The man has not been identified, and it was not clear whether he would be prosecuted.
Earlier, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the city's pro-Beijing leader, said the law would "restore stability" after widespread protests in 2019, saying: "The [new law] is considered the most important development in relations between the central government and Hong Kong since the handover." The legislation has been widely condemned by countries including the US and UK as well as human rights activists. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "[China] promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people, and gave them only 23."
The legislation has been widely condemned by countries including the US and UK as well as human rights activists and groups. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "[China] promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people, and gave them only 23." Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged countries to look at the situation in Hong Kong objectively and said China would not allow foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
But one Chinese official bristled at foreign critics, asking them: "What's this got to do with you?" Earlier, Zhang Xiaming of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office of the State Council, bristled at foreign critics, asking them: "What's this got to do with you?"
"We Chinese will not be scared by anyone," said Zhang Xiaming of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office of the State Council. "Gone are the days when we had to take cues from others." Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader, said the law would "restore stability" after widespread protests in 2019, saying: "The [new law] is considered the most important development in relations between the central government and Hong Kong since the handover."
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will make a statement later with the country's response, after accusing China of ignoring international obligations by taking new powers that could curb civil liberties.
Hong Kong's new security lawHong Kong's new security law
What is happening on the anniversary?What is happening on the anniversary?
Some pro-democracy activists have pledged to defy the ban and march later in the afternoon. "We march every year... and we will keep on marching," veteran Leung Kwok-hung told Reuters. Demonstrators in the Causeway Bay district chanted "resist till the end" and "Hong Kong independence" amid warnings that certain slogans and banners might constitute serious crimes under the controversial law.
Photos on social media - confirmed by police as genuine - showed a flag being used to warn protesters about the new law. "I'm scared of going to jail but for justice I have to come out today, I have to stand up," a 35-year-old man who gave his name as Seth told Reuters news agency.
One pro-democracy activist warned there was a "large chance of our being arrested". Ahead of the protest, pro-democracy activist Tsang Kin-shing, of the League of Social Democrats, warned there was a "large chance of our being arrested", saying: "The charges will not be light, please judge for yourself."
"The charges will not be light, please judge for yourself," said Tsang Kin-shing of the League of Social Democrats. Photos on social media - confirmed by police as genuine - showed a flag being used by officers to warn protesters about the new law. Some 4,000 officers were on standby to handle unrest, the South China Morning Post reported.
Police officers in the city are on standby, insiders told the South China Morning Post. They said around 4,000 officers were poised to handle any unrest.
What does the new law say?What does the new law say?
Under the new law, crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces are punishable by a minimum sentence of three years, with the maximum being life. Crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces are punishable by a minimum sentence of three years, with the maximum being life. It also says:
Protesters often targeted city infrastructure during the 2019 protests, and under the new law, damaging public transport facilities can be considered terrorism. Beijing will also have power over how the law should be interpreted, and not any Hong Kong judicial or policy body. If the law conflicts with any Hong Kong law, the Beijing law takes priority.
Beijing will also establish a new security office in Hong Kong, with its own law enforcement personnel - neither of which would come under the local authority's jurisdiction. Mr Zhang said the law would not be applied retroactively - that is, to offences committed before it was passed - and that suspects arrested in Hong Kong on charges of violating the law may be tried on the mainland.
Inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government are now offences under Article 29. A turning point for Hong Kong
The law can also be broken from abroad by non-residents, under Article 38. This could mean that foreigners could be arrested if they step into Hong Kong, if they are suspected of breaking the new law. By Michael Bristow, BBC World Service Asia-Pacific editor
Some critics feared the law would apply retroactively - that is, to offences committed before the law was passed - but Mr Zhang said that would not be the case. The law gives Beijing extensive powers to shape life in the territory that it has never had before. It not only introduces a series of tough punishments for a long list of crimes, it changes the way justice is administered.
He added that suspects arrested in Hong Kong on charges of violating the law may be tried on the mainland. Trials can be held in secret - and without a jury. Judges can be handpicked. The law reverses a presumption that suspects will be granted bail. There appears to be no time limit on how long people can be held.
Activists go quiet Crimes are described in vague terms, leading to the possibility of broad interpretation, and the right to interpret lies only in Beijing. Foreign nationals outside of Hong Kong face prosecution.
Under the national security law, many of the acts of protest that have rocked Hong Kong over the past year could now be classed as subversion or secession… and punished with up to life in prison. Most cases will be handled in Hong Kong, but the mainland can take over "complex", "serious" or "difficult" cases. Whether or not you think the legislation was necessary, it is impossible to deny its significance. As Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam put it: this is a turning point.
Carrie Lam said the law was long overdue. Political activists have resigned and one pro-democracy protester, who asked to remain anonymous, told me that ordinary people were now deleting posts on social media.
Many people are just stopping talking about politics, and stopping talking about freedom and democracy, because they want to save their own lives. They want to save their freedom and avoid being arrested.
One contact of mine, a lawyer and human rights activist, sent me a message shortly after the law was passed. Please delete everything on this chat, he wrote
What reaction has the new law drawn?What reaction has the new law drawn?
Mr Pompeo said the "draconian" law "destroyed Hong Kong's autonomy".
"Hong Kong demonstrated to the world what a free Chinese people could achieve - one of the most successful economies and vibrant societies in the world," he said.
"But Beijing's paranoia and fear of its own people's aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory's success."
Meanwhile, Canada has updated its Hong Kong travel advice, saying: "You may be at increased risk of arbitrary detention on national security grounds and possible extradition to mainland China."
Minutes after the law was passed on Tuesday, pro-democracy activists began to quit, fearful of the punishment the new law allows.Minutes after the law was passed on Tuesday, pro-democracy activists began to quit, fearful of the punishment the new law allows.
"With sweeping powers and ill-defined law, the city will turn into a secret police state," said Joshua Wong, a key pro-democracy leader. "With sweeping powers and ill-defined law, the city will turn into a secret police state," said Joshua Wong, a key pro-democracy leader. The political party he co-founded - Demosisto - was disbanded.
The political party he co-founded - Demosisto - was also disbanded. Ted Hui, an opposition legislator, told the BBC the move had taken away the city's rights, saying: "Our freedom is gone, our rule of law, our judicial independence is gone".
One opposition legislator told the BBC the move had taken away the city's rights. Mr Pompeo said the "draconian" law "destroyed Hong Kong's autonomy", adding: "Beijing's paranoia and fear of its own people's aspirations have led it to eviscerate the very foundation of the territory's success."
"Our freedom is gone, our rule of law, our judicial independence is gone," said Ted Hui. Canada has updated its Hong Kong travel advice, saying: "You may be at increased risk of arbitrary detention on national security grounds and possible extradition to mainland China."
In the US, lawmakers from both parties have launched a bill to give refugee status to Hong Kong residents at risk of persecution, reported local media outlets.In the US, lawmakers from both parties have launched a bill to give refugee status to Hong Kong residents at risk of persecution, reported local media outlets.
Taiwan's government has said it will set up a special office to help those in Hong Kong facing immediate political risks.Taiwan's government has said it will set up a special office to help those in Hong Kong facing immediate political risks.