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Taiwan condemns arrest of Hong Kong democracy activists

ROC Central News Agency

01/06/2021 08:54 PM

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Taiwan on Wednesday condemned Hong Kong police for the arrest of over 50 democracy activists and harassing pro-democracy media outlets earlier that day under the territory's controversial national security law.

Taiwan and the international community were shocked by the Hong Kong authorities' dawn raids on pro-democracy activists, and they denounced the suppression of human rights and democracy, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's top China policy-making body, said in a statement.

The Hong Kong national security law, becoming effective on July 1, 2020, has given the authorities of the Chinese special administrative region convenient pretext to crack down on democracy advocates under the charge of inciting subversion of state power, the MAC said.

The law's enactment also highlights the fact that the article on human rights protection enshrined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong exists in name only, it added.

The continued erosion of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong will affect the territory's status as an international financial hub and will be bad for mainland China, the MAC said.

Hong Kong police arrested 53 individuals, including at least 10 incumbent and former elected representatives early Wednesday. Former Democratic Party Chairman Wu Chi-wai (胡志偉) was arrested on suspicion of subverting state power in violation of the national security law.

The policy also searched the home of Joshua Wong (黃之鋒), former secretary-general of the pro-democracy party Demosistō, who has been jailed for violating the national security law.

In addition, police visited the offices of media outlets Apple Daily, Stand News, and Inmediahk to demand documents, according to local media.

Commenting on the raids, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) expressed hope that China will adhere to its promise to uphold Hong Kong's autonomy until 2047. He urged Beijing to refrain from suppressing Kong Kong people's pursuit of democracy and freedom.

"Doing so will create antipathy and lead to global condemnation," he said.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, meanwhile, said that Hong Kong is fast being subject to China's red terror. It expressed concern for the future of the Chinese special administrative region.

Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), chairman of the main opposition Kuomintang, called on Beijing and the Hong Kong government to be prudent and tolerant and not to harm or restrict the development of freedom and democracy in the territory.

(By Lai Yan-hsi, Yeh Su-ping and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/AW