National security law: ‘No intent to intimidate,’ Hong Kong police chief says of mass arrests of opposition figures

Police commissioner Chris Tang addresses accusations on radio show, insisting police only act on evidence and not political background

On criticism over low prosecution rate so far among 55 figures arrested, he says national security offences are serious acts that need deep investigation

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Officers march in front of a banner of the national security law at a ceremony last year. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:42pm, 6 Feb 2021Updated: 11:03pm, 6 Feb 2021

Hong Kong’s police chief has rejected accusations of the force intimidating the city’s opposition camp through mass arrests under the national security law, insisting the action was based on evidence and not the political backgrounds of suspects.

“This was never our intention. We only take action based on the evidence we collect. Whenever there are people who breach the law, we’ll arrest them,” Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung said in response to critics who cited low prosecution rates despite the arrests.

Tang made the rebuttal on a Saturday radio show, addressing claims the force was attempting to spread fear through arrests of opposition figures under the Beijing-imposed security legislation.

“We don’t care about the backgrounds of offenders. We are dauntless,” Tang said. “No matter how strong your background is, what kind of backing you have and which media organisation you control, these are not our considerations. We will arrest these people and prosecute them whenever we have evidence.”

Police commissioner Chris Tang. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Last month, police arrested 55 opposition figures over subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary poll ahead of the Legislative Council elections initially set for last September. The Legco polls were later postponed by a year with the city leader citing the Covid-19 pandemic.