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Hong Kong national security law: four big questions raised by mass arrests of 53 opposition figures
- Except for one suspect, all were released with no charges but their passports were seized, with analysts puzzled over the police move
- Observers point to extreme political sensitivity of cases and need for strong likelihood of prosecution to proceed to court
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The unprecedented arrests of 53 Hong Kong opposition figures under the national security law this week made international headlines, but left many surprised that after the shock and awe of the dawn raids across the city, no one was charged immediately.
Except for one suspect, all were released on bail and barred from leaving the city. The episode had left more questions than answers, analysts said, urging the authorities to be more transparent with their decisions.
Sources said jailed activists Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Tam Tak-chi – both of whom participated in the primary polls in question – were also arrested behind bars on Thursday morning.
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Legal experts cautioned that strong evidence was needed to make the subversion charges stick, while some pointed to how police had, apparently without court approval, confiscated the passports of those held as bail terms, and whether there were clauses in local laws that empowered such action.
About 1,000 police officers raided multiple locations on Wednesday, arresting 53 people for allegedly staging or running in the opposition bloc’s primary run-off election last July in which more than 600,000 voters participated.
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The security minister said the “35-plus” plan to seize a majority of the 70-member Legislative Council ahead of the now-postponed general polls violated the national security legislation as it was part of a bigger scheme to paralyse and overthrow the local administration.
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Benny Tai among Hong Kong opposition figures released by police after crackdown
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