BEIJING: Hong Kong police fired water cannons on Wednesday (Jul 1) to break up the first protest since China introduced sweeping security legislation and they made their first arrests under it, warning of punishment for advocating secession or subversion.
Beijing on Tuesday unveiled the details of the much-anticipated law after weeks of uncertainty, pushing Hong Kong onto a more authoritarian path.
As thousands of protesters gathered downtown for an annual rally marking the anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China in 1997, riot police used pepper spray to make arrests, while shops and a metro station closed.
"I’m scared of going to jail but for justice I have to come out today, I have to stand up," said one 35-year-old man, who gave his name as Seth.
Crowds spilling out into the streets chanted "resist till the end" and "Hong Kong independence".
READ: Hong Kong marks handover anniversary under shadow of new security law
Police fired water cannons to clear the crowds and later said they had made 30 arrests for illegal assembly, obstruction, possession of weapons and violating the new law.
Earlier, police cited the law for the first time in confronting protesters.
"You are displaying flags or banners/chanting slogans/or conducting yourselves with an intent such as secession or subversion, which may constitute offences under the ... national security law," police said in a message displayed on a purple banner.
The law will punish crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and officially set up mainland security agencies in Hong Kong for the first time, with powers beyond city laws.
China's parliament adopted it in response to months of protests last year triggered by fears that Beijing was stifling the city's freedoms, guaranteed by a "one country, two systems" formula agreed when it returned to Chinese rule.
Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have repeatedly said the legislation is aimed at a few "troublemakers" and will not affect rights and freedoms, nor investor interests.
READ: Hong Kong national security law: 5 key facts you need to know
READ: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says national security law will not undermine HK autonomy
But critics fear it will crush the freedoms that are seen as key to Hong Kong's success as a financial centre.
"With the release of the full detail of the law, it should be clear to those in any doubt that this is not the Hong Kong they grew up in," said Hasnain Malik, head of equity research Tellimer in Dubai.
"The difference is that US and China relations are far worse and this could be used as a pretext to impede the role of Hong Kong as a finance hub."
In Beijing, Zhang Xiaoming, executive deputy director of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, told reporters suspects arrested by a new Beijing-run security office could be tried on the mainland.
He said the new office abides by Chinese law and that Hong Kong's legal system could not be expected to implement the laws of the mainland. Article 55 of the law states that Beijing's security office in Hong Kong could exercise jurisdiction over "complex" or "serious" cases.
"The law is a birthday gift to (Hong Kong) and will show its precious value in the future," Zhang said, adding the law would not be applied retroactively.
On Jul 1 last year, hundreds of protesters stormed and vandalised the city's Legislative Council building to protest against a now-scrapped bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.
Those protests evolved into calls for greater democracy, paralysing parts of the city and paving the way for Beijing's imposition of the law this week.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2hvbmcta29uZy1wcm90ZXN0cy1wb2xpY2UtY2hpbmEtbmF0aW9uYWwtc2VjdXJpdHktbGF3LWFycmVzdHMtMTI4ODk5NzDSAQA?oc=5
2020-07-01 07:45:59Z
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