The Hong Kong Police Force released statements on Wednesday and Thursday announcing the arrest of a total of five people for suspected contravention of the National Security Law.
The police arrested these men for the suspected contravention of “conspiracy to collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security” under Article 29(4) of the National Security Law, and for the suspected contravention of “conspiracy to doing an act or acts with seditious intention” under section 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.
In the statements, the police revealed that:
The arrested persons were suspected of receiving funds from operating companies, social platforms and mobile applications to support people who have fled overseas and continue to engage in activities that endanger national security. They were also suspected of repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intention on social media platforms, including content which provoked hatred towards the Central Authorities and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and advocated “Hong Kong independence”.
As of this moment, the police have not released any further details regarding the case. However, Wenweipo, a media outlet which is fully funded by the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, reported that the arrest was related to their operation of an online shopping platform (“懲罰mee”). Wenweipo also reported that the five men used the revenue to sponsor Nathan Law, who is one of the activists wanted by the police on Monday. This information has also been quoted and reported by various local media.
On Monday, the Hong Kong Police Force held a press conference, announcing the charging of eight overseas activists for contravening National Security Law. The officers also fore-noticed the police’s continuing investigations on their conspirators and financial supporters that are still in Hong Kong. The investigation aims to block the activists’ financial support and their continuing contravention of National Security Law.
The arrested men were members of Demosistō, a pro-democratic party formed in 2016. It was dissolved in 2020, following the enactment of the National Security Law.
