Four Young Hong Kong Residents Arrested In First Crackdown Under New Security Law

Hong Kong police arrested four young residents Wednesday for suspicion of inciting secession in their first major crackdown under a new security law.

The residents are believed to be students ranging in age from 16 to 21. The police allege that the group voiced their support for Hong Kong’s independence from China on social media, the Associated Press reports.

“They say they want to establish a Hong Kong republic, and that they will unreservedly fight for it. They also said they want to unite all pro-independence groups in Hong Kong for this purpose,” said Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, according to the AP.

Studentlocalism, a political organization run by Hong Kong youth, posted on its Twitter and Facebook Wednesday that one of its student activists was arrested at his home for promoting the territory’s autonomy, the AP reports.

Among its many missions, the organization seeks to “Awaken the will of Hong Kong’s national independence and consolidate the Hong Kong National Community” and “Promote Hong Kong’s concept of independence to middle school students in Hong Kong,” according to its Twitter account.

The Chinese government passed the national security law in late June, granting state-security agencies from the mainland power to patrol Hong Kong.

Critics assert that the law strips Hong Kong’s autonomy by allowing Beijing to crack down on political dissent and other subversive activities.

The law was passed after Hong Kong residents staged widespread pro-democracy protests in the latter half of 2019.