National security law: at least five people under investigation for secession offences after Hong Kong protest, sources say
- Of the about 370 people held on Wednesday, three were customs officers arrested for unlawful assembly
- ‘Furious’ customs chief has stressed that all department officers must ‘fully support’ police efforts to stop violence, spokesman says
At least five people arrested in Hong Kong on Wednesday during protests against the new national security law are being investigated for secession offences, with two granted bail, multiple sources have told the Post.
Of the about 370 people held over the course of the day for various offences, three were customs officers arrested for unlawful assembly, the Post also learned. The trio have been suspended from duty.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Causeway Bay on Wednesday – the anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty – in defiance of a police ban on the annual July 1 march, to demonstrate against the law, which was passed on Tuesday by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislative body, and adopted in Hong Kong that night.
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Hong Kong police arrest 10 under new national security law
The law aims to stop, prevent and punish acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, and was tailor-made for Hong Kong following more than a year of anti-government protests sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill.
Ten of Wednesday’s arrests were related to breaches of the sweeping new law during the march. Police had banned the event for the first time since 2003 because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and fears that street violence would break out as seen during months of social unrest.
Two of the 10 suspects are students – a 15-year-old girl and a 19-year-old male. She was accused of carrying a “Hong Kong Independence” flag in Causeway Bay, a police source said.
The source said officers from the unit newly set up to handle national security cases were investigating whether there were people behind and inciting the 10 arrested