CCP authorities further arrest Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, and seize at least 51 others, including John Clancey, American human rights lawyer

Joshua Wong, further arrested under NSL, being taken to Laichikok Reception Center for a statement.
(Photo; Twitter friend)

(Hong Kong — Jan.7, 2021) On January 06, at 6 am (Beijing time), the eve of the U.S. presidential election’s final confirmation, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities launched numerous raids;  arresting at least 52 people, including Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, Tam Tak-chi, another activist, and John Clancey, an American human rights lawyer. To date, these raids depict the largest crackdowns on dissidents in Hong Kong. The majority of those the police arrested had participated in the 2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council democratic primaries. Officials accused them of violating the National Security Law (NSL) and for the crime of subverting state power.

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) reported that the targeted locations for the rapid raids the Hong Kong police conducted included the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI)’s headquarters that co-organized the primary election. Hong Kong police also investigated offices of various Hong Kong media such as Apple Daily, In-Media, and Stand News to deliver court orders requesting documents. Police officers ordered these media venues to provide information and contact persons behind the organization of the Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries.

As police escorted Lawyer John Clancey from his workplace, he called out to people watching, “We need to work for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong.” 

Lawyer John Clancey being escorted by officers to the local police station. 
(Photo: ChinaAid)

Authorities released Attorney Clancey and most of the other detainees overnight on bail without charges.

Activists Joshua Wong and Tam Tak-chi, another activist, both re-arrested while in jail, remain detained. Mr. Wong said, “I am persuaded that neither prison bars, nor an election ban, nor any other arbitrary powers would stop us from activism.” Officials transported Mr. Wong to Laichikok Reception center to take his statement and later returned him to Shek Pik Prison. Tam Tak-chi, currently in custody on a sedition charge, remains in detention.

The UN Human Rights Office and independent UN human rights experts have repeatedly warned that offences such as subversion under the National Security Law, passed in June 2020, are vague and overly broad, facilitating abusive or arbitrary implementation….
Yesterday’s arrests were the latest in a series of detentions related to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly, in Hong Kong.
The government of the special administrative region said the police took action “specifically targeting active players who organized, planned, committed or participated in acts of subversion.”
“These persons are suspected to have violated the offence of subversion under the National Security Law,” it said in a statement. 

 

The UN official spokesperson said that the CCP’s latest arrests demonstrate that “the offense of subversion under the National Security Law is indeed being used to detain individuals for exercising legitimate rights….” Those rights include that Hong Kongers have the right to peacefully assemble, and participate in political and public life. 

Sunny Cheung, an exile who contested in the pro-democracy primaries, considers this mass arrest to reveal the Hong Kong government’s desire to eradicate the pro-democracy supporters. Mr. Cheung posed the question: Since more than 600,000 Hong Kong populace participated in the pro-democracy primaries, does this mean that the Hong Kong government will prosecute more than 600,000 Hong Kongers for violating the National Security Law?

Since the CCP forcibly passed and implemented the disputed Hong Kong National Security Law, the Chinese government has increased pressure on pro-democracy activists and media outlets as well as disqualified several members of the pro-democratic legislative council. If the CCP later convicts those arrested on the 6th of violating the national security law, they may face up to 10 years in prison. 

At this moment, how China may “convince” the millions of disapproving Hong Kongers to relinquish their control to the CCP remains unclear. As authorities resort to raids like this most recent one, however, arresting, and imprisoning those who oppose them, China confirms that even though their constitution proclaims “yes,” citizens have the freedom to publicly reflect their opinions, their actions declare, “no.”

### 
But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” 
and your “No,” “No,” 
lest you fall into judgment.
                                 ~ James 5:12b 

China Aid exposes abuses in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law. If you wish to partner with us in helping those persecuted by the Chinese government, please click the button below to make a charitable donation.


ChinaAid Media Team
Cell: +1 (432) 553-1080 | Office: +1 (432) 689-6985 | Other: +1 (888) 889-7757
Email: [email protected]
For more information, click here

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

CCP authorities further arrest Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, and seize at least 51 others, including John Clancey, American human rights lawyer

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Scroll to Top