Hong Kong advocates for underprivileged, ethnic minority groups slam mass national security law arrests after two colleagues were among those detained

Two noted activists – one working on behalf of ethnic minority groups and one advocating for the disabled – were among those arrested on suspicion of subversion

Their fellow rights advocates have accused authorities of using the security law as a ‘front to target the core values’ of the city

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Social worker Jeffrey Andrews, vice-chair of the NGO Hong Kong Unison, was among those arrested for alleged national security law violations this week. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 10:37pm, 8 Jan 2021Updated: 3:20am, 9 Jan 2021

Advocates for Hong Kong’s underprivileged and ethnic minority communities have expressed grave concerns over the recent mass arrests of 53 former lawmakers and activists – including two respected rights figures – with one group accusing authorities of striking at the city’s core values.

Rights groups on Friday pointed to their colleagues’ years of service to disadvantaged communities, questioning how they could have broken the national security law, and lambasting local authorities for what they said was a misapplication of the Beijing-imposed legislation.

“We are concerned about the use of the national security law as a front to target the core values and democratic expressions and aspirations of people based simply on their political orientation,” said Phyllis Cheung Fung-mei, executive director of the NGO Hong Kong Unison.

“The arrests were an attempt to trample on Hongkongers’ fundamental human rights provided under the Basic Law.”

Fifty-three former lawmakers and activists were swept up in a national security law crackdown this week. Photo: Dickson Lee

This week’s arrests for alleged subversion constituted the biggest crackdown yet under the security law, sending shock waves across the city and drawing condemnation from foreign governments.