China’s crackdown in Hong Kong escalated dramatically on Wednesday with police arresting more than 50 opposition figures in their largest operation since a draconian security law was imposed on the financial hub.
The sweep is the latest salvo in Beijing’s battle to stamp out dissent in the semi-autonomous city after millions hit the streets in 2019 with huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.
Police confirmed 53 people — including a US citizen — were arrested for “subversion” in an early morning operation that involved about 1,000 officers.
The charges were sparked by an attempt by opposition groups last year to win a majority in the city’s partially-elected legislature.
Hong Kong’s security chief John Lee described the arrests as “necessary” and aimed at a group of people who tried to “sink Hong Kong into an abyss” and “overthrow the government”.
Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong said those facing prosecution “strategically organised or implemented a plan to paralyse the government”.
But the operation sparked a rebuke from Antony Blinken, US President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of state, who said authorities were launching “an assault on those bravely advocating for universal rights”.
“The Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijing’s crackdown on democracy,” he added.
Former colonial ruler Britain said the arrests were a “grievous attack” on the rights and freedoms promised to Hong Kong under a 1984 agreement that paved the way for the territory’s return to Chinese rule.
The EU — which recently agreed a major investment deal with Beijing — called for the “immediate release” of those rounded up and said it was eyeing possible further sanctions on China over the crackdown.
Those detained represented a broad cross-section of Hong Kong’s opposition, from veteran former pro-democracy lawmakers such as James To, Andrew Wan, Lam Cheuk-ting and Claudia Mo to a host of younger activists.
Among the youth campaigners were Gwyneth Ho, a former journalist turned social activist, district councillor Tiffany Yuen and Jeffrey Andrews, a campaigner known for working with ethnic minorities.
Colleagues of Joshua Wong, one of the city’s most famous democracy activists, who is currently in jail, said via his official Facebook account that his home was searched. National security police also searched a law firm known for taking on human rights cases.
John Clancey, an American lawyer working for the firm, was arrested on suspicion of subversion, two sources said. It is the first time a US national has been detained under the new law.
A fluent Cantonese speaker and long-term Hong Kong resident, Clancey is a veteran legal activist.
“Continue to work for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong,” he told reporters as he was led away by officers. The police operation also involved the media.
Three local news outlets — Stand News, Apple Daily and Inmediahk — said national security police visited to request documents.
