https://www.theaustralian.com.au/ne...d/news-story/b9f820ee332935d6c48d4197e4ea77a0 Reuters 10:02PM April 18, 2020 Hong Kong police have arrested about a dozen democracy activists on charges of illegal assembly in raids across the Asian financial hub, media and political sources say. Believed to be among those detained in the swoop is prominent Democratic Party founder and senior barrister Martin Lee, 81, broadcaster RTHK reported. In all, nine former legislators were arrested. Hong Kong police have yet to confirm the arrests, which media said related to marches on Aug. 18 and Oct. 1 last year - both days of large and at times violent protests across the city. Media showed footage of police outside the house of publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai, a financial backer of the city's pro-democracy movement. Lai was arrested on similar charges in late February, along with veteran activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Yeung Sum. It was unclear whether he was among those arrested on Saturday, while others named by media could not be contacted. The raids mark the biggest crackdown on the pro-democracy movement since the outbreak of large and sometimes violent anti-government protests across the former British colony in June last year. Marchers initially targeted a now-scrapped bill proposing to send suspects to mainland China for trial but protests broadened into demands for full democracy and a public investigation of the use of force by police. Saturday's arrests come after several months of relative calm amid a partial coronavirus lockdown but just as Chinese and city government officials launch a new push for tougher national security laws for Hong Kong. Democratic legislator Claudia Mo, who was not among those arrested, said the government, led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, was trying "into introduce a ring of terror in Hong Kong". "They are doing whatever they can to try to silence, to take down, the local opposition," she said, pointing to upcoming legislative elections in September in which democrats hope to win back their former veto power in the city assembly. Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested more than 7,800 people for their involvement in the protests, including many on rioting charges that can carry jail terms of up to 10 years. It is not clear how many of them are in custody. Hong Kong government and security officials have recently described some of the democracy movement's actions as being close to terrorism. Authorities are increasingly using the threat of terrorism to justify the need for new national security laws, a requirement under the Basic Law - the mini-constitution that guarantees Hong Kong's broad freedoms and outlines its relationship with Beijing. Hong Kong returned to Beijing in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that guarantees it broad freedoms not seen in mainland China, and a high degree of autonomy. A previous attempt to draft a national security law for Hong Kong, known as Article 23, was met with mass protests in 2003 and abandoned.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/l...s-of-democracy-advocates-20200419-p54l61.html Payne condemns Hong Kong arrests of democracy advocates amid coronavirus Eryk Bagshaw Updated April 19, 2020 — 4.23pmfirst published at 1.09pm The Australian government has condemned the arrest of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong amid the coronavirus pandemic, warning the move undermines stability, trust and goodwill in the midst of a global crisis. Foreign Minister Marise Payne issued the statement after the US and Britain warned the arrest of at least 15 veteran activists over the 2019 protests jeopardised the autonomy of Hong Kong, which is guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" relationship with mainland China. Senator Payne said the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are enshrined in the Basic Law for all people of Hong Kong. Pro-democracy supporters hold banners and shout slogans outside of the Western District police station in Hong Kong after at least 14 pro-democracy veterans and supporters were arrested on Saturday.Credit:Getty Images "That this has happened in the midst of the global crisis stemming from COVID-19 is concerning. Actions that undermine stability are never acceptable, but to do so during a crisis of this magnitude erodes goodwill and trust," she said. Senator Payne said the professional and unbiased application of justice was "vital to restore confidence and stability" in Hong Kong, "never more so than now". The strongly worded statement is likely to further heighten tensions between Canberra and Beijing as the Morrison government joins the US in raising concerns about China's response to the coronavirus and its politicisation of the World Health Organisation. Senator Payne on Sunday also called for an independent global review of the origins and spread of the virus. The government consistently voiced concerns about Chinese Communist Party's role in cracking down on the Hong Kong protests as they escalated last year. Physical protests, which started in response to legislation that would have allowed the residents of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to be sent to mainland to stand trial, have all but disappeared since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The protests turned increasingly violent over the course of seven months, despite the withdrawal of the bill amid rising concerns over allegations of police brutality. Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said the arrests were "deeply concerning". "Freedom of assembly is enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law. ‘One Country, Two Systems’ must be upheld. One of the arrested was Martin Lee, 'the father of HK democracy'. The timing during a pandemic is of further concern," she said. Lee, 81, was arrested along with democracy advocates Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Au Nok-hin. Police also arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who founded the local newspaper Apple Daily and civil rights barristers and activists. Hong Kong Police Superintendent Lam Wing-Ho said the 15 people arrested allegedly organised and took part in unlawful assemblies in August and October last year. The high-profile nature of the arrests is likely to send a signal to the wider protest movement as Hong Kong plans its recovery from the coronavirus and social distancing measures. The disease has largely been contained in the Chinese territory with only 1024 cases and 4 deaths, compared to 6606 cases in Australia and 71 deaths, despite Hong Kong's geographic and economic proximity to mainland China. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Beijing and its representatives in Hong Kong continue to take "actions inconsistent" with commitments made under 1997 handover of the former British colony to China. Britain's Foreign Office also criticised the arrests, saying "the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law". China's official Xinhua news agency reported comments from the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong that said foreign countries have no right to interfere in China's domestic issues. "Police were enforcing the law against those suspected of organising and participating in unauthorised assemblies," the Commissioner said. "It is completely wrong that the UK Foreign Office spokesperson has distorted the truth by painting unauthorised assemblies as 'peaceful protests,' in a bid to whitewash, condone and exonerate the anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong."