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Hong Kong national security law (NSL)
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Police brought out for the first time a new, purple flag warning against breaking the national security law. Photo: Sam Tsang

National security law: thousands of protesters return to Hong Kong streets, openly defying ban on July 1 rally

  • At least 10 people – six men and four women – become the first to be arrested by police exercising their new powers under the contentious legislation
  • Although roads are blocked, and radicals set fires, vandalise shops and attack police, chaos is not on the scale of last year’s violent unrest
Thousands of protesters returned to Hong Kong streets on Wednesday, openly defying a ban on the annual July 1 rally to oppose Beijing’s newly imposed national security law.

At least 10 people – six men and four women – became the first to be arrested by police exercising their new powers under the contentious legislation, which took effect at 11pm on Tuesday.

Several of them were carrying materials calling for “Hong Kong independence”, including a 15-year-old girl waving a flag.

They were among about 370 people detained mainly for participating in illegal assemblies, disorderly conduct and possession of offensive weapons.

01:11

Hong Kong Police officer stabbed in the arm

Hong Kong Police officer stabbed in the arm
While protesters blocked roads and radicals among them set fires, vandalised shops and attacked police, the chaos was not on the scale of last year’s violent protests, and the majority mostly played cat and mouse with officers across Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.

Police said at least four officers were injured after coming under attack by radicals. One of them was assaulted by a mob when he became separated from his colleagues while chasing a suspect near Victoria Park.

“An officer was stabbed in the arm by rioters holding sharp objects when he was taking arrest action,” police said in a Twitter post. “While the bystanders offered no helping hand, suspects fled. The police express the strongest condemnation against such a violent act.”

A police officer fires pepper spray at protesters. Photo: Sam Tsang

Three other officers were injured in Wan Chai when a protester drove his motorcycle into them, knocking them down. The 23-year-old, who had a flag with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong” mounted on his motorcycle, was arrested under the national security law.

Riot police deployed a water cannon, and used tear gas, pepper spray and pepper balls to disperse unruly crowds.

01:26

Water cannon flattens photojournalist during July 1 protests in Hong Kong

Water cannon flattens photojournalist during July 1 protests in Hong Kong

The protests lasted throughout the day and continued into the night. Riot police were still dispersing protesters at the Times Square shopping mall in Causeway Bay at 8pm, at one point firing pepper balls which also hit passers-by.

National security law: day of defiance as 370 arrested in protests

Throughout the day, protest slogans directly challenging the new law, such as “Hong Kong independence, the only way out” and “One Hong Kong, one nation”, echoed through the canyons of high-rise blocks in the shopping district.

Other familiar slogans from last year’s anti-government campaign – “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” and “No rioters, only tyranny” – could also be heard on the streets.

A motorcyclist was among those arrested. Photo: iCable News

Traffic on the usually busy Hennessy Road ground to a halt as protesters charged onto the carriageways, only to retreat and strike at the next location every time police arrived.

Radicals set up makeshift barricades to block Hennessy Road and side streets near Times Square, while others set fire to debris they threw on the streets, and smashed the storefront of a Starbucks outlet and a Maxim’s cake shop in Tin Hau and Causeway Bay.

Protest banners and slogans advocating Hong Kong independence now illegal

At one point, riot police were seen throwing handheld tear gas canisters to disperse protesters on Percival Street, where radicals had dug up bricks. Pepper balls were also fired at a crowd outside Times Squares after a bottle was thrown at officers.

News of the first arrest under the new law came shortly after 1.30pm – about 14½ hours after the legislation took effect.

Hong Kong national security law full text:

“A man was arrested for holding a Hong Kong independence flag in Causeway Bay … violating the national security law. This is the first arrest made since the law has come into force,” police said in a Twitter post that included photos of an independence flag and a man wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan, “Free Hong Kong”.

Along with the usual blue flag to warn protesters they were taking part in illegal assembly, police also brought out for the first time a new, purple flag warning against breaking the national security law.

00:35

New purple flag warning protesters about breaking national security law used by Hong Kong police

New purple flag warning protesters about breaking national security law used by Hong Kong police

“You are displaying flags or banners/chanting slogans/or conducting yourselves with an intent such as secession or subversion, which may constitute offences under the [national security law]. You may be arrested and prosecuted,” the flag warned.

Police officers in riot gear head through the Times Square shopping mall. Photo: May Tse

Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu defended the arrests under the new law.

“When the law is promulgated, it becomes effective law in Hong Kong. When it becomes effective law in Hong Kong, everybody has to abide by it … and I think that should be our common sense and common knowledge,” he said.

03:25

Hong Kong police arrest 10 under new national security law

Hong Kong police arrest 10 under new national security law
Police had rejected an application by rally organiser Civil Human Rights Front to hold the annual July 1 march this year for the first time since 2003, citing the risk of violence and Covid-19 pandemic rules against large public gatherings.
Last year, the front claimed 550,000 people joined the handover day march amid the social unrest triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill. While it began peacefully, radicals stormed into the Legislative Council complex that night.
A protester stabs a police officer who is trying to arrest a man. Photo: AFP

Among those protesting on Wednesday was Li Hing-nin, 52, who was waving an American flag.

“I am doing this because I want the American government to do more to pressure the Chinese government to withdraw the law,” he said. “Just because I raise this flag does not mean I have any connection with the US government. So it is safe.”

As it happened: over 300 arrested in protests against Hong Kong national security law

Another protester, aged 28, said he feared arrest but was prepared for it.

“Of course there is fear of being arrested after the promulgation of the national security law, but everyone out on the streets has to be psychologically prepared for that, ” he said.

Police use a water cannon to clear protesters off the streets. Photo: Sam Tsang

“It is ironic that the July 1 march started because of Article 23 and here we are 17 years later fighting something even more repressive.”

He was referring to the Basic Law provision requiring Hong Kong to enact its own national security legislation.

After waiting for 23 years for the city to fulfil its constitutional requirement, Beijing acted unilaterally to impose the new law, declaring Hong Kong to be the loophole in protecting China’s national security.

Reporting by Sum Lok-kei, Lilian Cheng, Kanis Leung, Zoe Low, Laura Westbrook, Kathleen Magramo, Chan Ho-him, Phila Siu, Joyce Ng, Emily Tsang, Danny Mok, and Ng Kang-chung

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Hundreds held as protesters hit streets again
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