Hong Kong Police Nationwide Safety Division questioned on Thursday a number of kin of two wished activists, Dennis Kwok and Mung Siu-tat. They’re among the many activists wished by Hong Kong authorities since July 3, when the Hong Kong Police Drive introduced a bounty for eight pro-democracy activists. There are not any official press releases in relation to the query however a number of native media reported the information, together with state-owned media Wenweipo and Legislator Joephy Chan.
Hong Kong Free Press quoted info from the police, reporting that the Police Nationwide Safety Division took away seven individuals in whole for investigation. The police claimed that “they’re all suspected of helping individuals wished by Police to proceed to commit acts and have interaction in actions that endanger nationwide safety. The investigation is underway and additional operations, together with arrest, could also be made.”
This spherical of investigation focused Kwok, a former legislator from the pro-democratic Civic Occasion, which was disbanded in Might 2023. Previous to this raid, the Hong Kong Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, lodged a proper criticism to the Hong Kong Bar Affiliation on July 10 over alleged skilled misconduct. The criticism claimed that Kwok made use of his skilled capability to make slanderous remarks in opposition to Hong Kong judges and prosecutors. Advocating for international sanctions in opposition to the Chinese language and Hong Kong governments additionally amounted to skilled misconduct, Lam steered.
The police have continued taking motion in opposition to activists’ kin and acquaintances who’re nonetheless residing in Hong Kong. The final spherical of investigation focused Nathan Law, the youngest elected legislator in Hong Kong. The police arrested 5 former members of the pro-democratic get together Demosistō, which Regulation helped present in 2016. Following the arrest, the police has additionally raided his household house and took away his dad and mom and brothers for investigation on July 11.
For the reason that enactment of the National Security Law, the Police Nationwide Safety Division has the powers to:
- search locations for proof,
- limit individuals below investigation from leaving Hong Kong,
- freeze, restraint, confiscate, and forfeit properties,
- take away messages endangering nationwide safety,
- require international and Taiwan political organisations and brokers to supply info by motive of actions regarding Hong Kong,
- conducting interception and covert surveillance, and
- require to furnish info and produce supplies.
On the time the legislation handed, then Safety for Safety John Lee claimed that these practices wouldn’t trigger any inroads to human rights as protected by the nationwide safety legislation or different native legal guidelines. However, the Minister of International State, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP condemned the chilling impact of the Nationwide Safety Regulation in June 2023. Over 60 human rights organizations additionally raised concerns on the observe of nationwide safety legislation on July 12. Nonetheless, Hong Kong’s authorities contended that these critiques are slander and “wanton assault.”
