Politics

5 Arrested in Hong Kong for Allegedly Aiding Activists Abroad

JUL 6 2023·Updated JUL 7 2023

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The Facts

Between Wednesday and Thursday, Hong Kong police arrested five men for alleged conspiracy to sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces by financially supporting activists abroad.
CNN
They face accusations of publishing posts with seditious intent online and operating companies, social media platforms, and mobile apps to secure funds to assist people who have fled Hong Kong, allegedly endangering national security.
VOA
All five are reportedly former members of the defunct Demosisto party, including former leader Ivan Lam, who allegedly collected funds on behalf of former party chairman and UK-based wanted activist Nathan Law.
South China Morning Post
According to a police statement, they have been detained for questioning while the investigation remains ongoing and further arrests haven't been ruled out.
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
This comes as, on Monday, Hong Kong police accused eight overseas activists, including Nathan Law, of violating the National Security Law and offered unprecedented rewards of $HK1M ($127.6K) for information leading to their arrests.
The Associated Press
The Beijing-imposed National Security Law came into effect in June 2020 in the Special Administrative Region of China, with police reportedly having since arrested 260 people for violating it.
BBC News

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The Spin

Pro-China narrative

Law enforcement authorities in Hong Kong are taking the necessary measures within the law to dissuade infamous anti-China disruptors from engaging in activities endangering national security both at home and overseas. Fugitives have been put on the wanted list to defend national sovereignty, and their financial backers have been identified and detained.

Global Times

Anti-China narrative

Once a stable jurisdiction that respected the rule of law, Hong Kong has become an authoritarian state that operates with few legal restraints when it comes to crushing dissent at home and abroad. The likely ineffective cash bounty scheme on self-exiled dissidents and these subsequent arrests are just the latest signs of the deterioration of freedoms in the territory since the National Security Law came into force.