Hong Kong exhibition opens to mark fifth anniversary of national security law
Minister Chris Tang says 326 people have been arrested under Hong Kong’s two security laws as of June 1
At the opening ceremony of the government-organised event on Thursday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung noted that 326 people had been arrested under the city’s national security laws as of June 1. The arrests include those made under security legislation enacted in March last year in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
Tang said residents should stay vigilant against four major risks, which still existed despite the stability brought by the laws: external forces that attempt to smear and sanction; exiled individuals who promoted “Hong Kong independence”; local terrorism; and soft resistance.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok called on Hongkongers not to forget history, ignore reality or stay aloof when national security threats emerged.
“National security risks are often not easily visible to the naked eye, but the facts are clear: hostile countries and forces are attempting to continuously suppress our country’s development,” Lam said at the ceremony.
He made reference to “a certain country” that attempted to interfere in national security cases through illegal sanctions and levies.