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HK detains 47 on subversion charges

Jessie Pang and James PomfretAAP
Sam Cheung was charged after reporting to a Hong Kong police station while accompanied by his wife.
Camera IconSam Cheung was charged after reporting to a Hong Kong police station while accompanied by his wife.

Forty-seven Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners and activists have been charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in the largest single crackdown on the opposition under a China-imposed national security law.

Among them was Sam Cheung, a 27-year-old activist and a participant in an unofficial primary election last summer, who was charged on Sunday after reporting to a local police station.

"Hong Kongers have a really tough time these days," he told reporters. "I hope everyone won't give up on Hong Kong ... (and) fight on."

Cheung was arrested in a dawn raid along with 54 other pro-democracy campaigners on January 6 in the largest national security operation since the law passed last June.

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They were accused of organising and taking in the unofficial primary last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

The Hong Kong police said they had laid a charge against 47 persons with the single count. They will appear in court on Monday morning.

The decision to charge many activists in a single swoop could seriously hurt the opposition movement. Those charged included veterans such as Leung Kwok-hung, Eddie Chu and Alvin Yeung; former law professor Benny Tai and prominent young campaigners such as Lester Shum, Joshua Wong and Owen Chow.

The European Union Office in Hong Kong called for the immediate release of those arrested. "The nature of these charges makes clear that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated in Hong Kong," it said.

The tightening legal noose on activists comes as Chinese officials prepare to unveil electoral reforms that will likely further diminish the role and influence of opposition forces in public office.

A rights advocacy group, "Power for Democracy", which co-organised the primary elections, said in a Facebook post it had disbanded.

Hong Kong police say 99 individuals have been arrested for suspected violations of the security laws so far.

Some, including media mogul and prominent China critic Jimmy Lai, have been denied bail despite protracted legal appeals.

The sweeping national security laws punish acts of subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with possible life imprisonment.

China justified the laws to restore order following mass protests in 2019 against perceived Chinese suppression of Hong Kong's basic liberties and autonomy under the "one country, two systems" arrangement. This was put in place in 1997 when the city reverted from British to Chinese rule.

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