Hong Kong national security police unit puts university campus in cross hairs with arrest of three students over rally
- The trio of students were among eight people arrested in a series of raids across the city shortly after daybreak on Monday
- People were heard calling for Hong Kong independence during the protest at Chinese University last month
Three students were among eight people swept up by the police national security department early Monday morning, signalling a fresh push by authorities to impose the discipline of the new law on what had long been outposts of dissent in the city – and the sites of some of the fiercest clashes during last year‘s social unrest – university campuses
Senior Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of the national security department said the three students were arrested on suspicion of inciting secession under the sweeping law decreed by Beijing, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. All eight were suspected of taking part in an unauthorised assembly.
“Throughout the one-hour procession, some of them were chanting slogans of pro-Hong Kong independence or displaying flags or banners with the slogan of pro-Hong Kong independence,” he said.
Li said an initial investigation showed the three students - two Form Four students both aged 16 and a postsecondary student - had shouted the slogans and displayed the flags during the demonstration. A police source said security cameras captured their identities when they removed their masks.