Police in Hong Kong on Thursday arrested at least 60 protesters on suspicion of "illegal assembly". They had gathered for a demonstration, which coincided with China's National Day.
Police said in a statement posted on
Facebook that two district councilors were among those arrested.
Protesters in Hong Kong usually use
October 1 to draw attention to Beijing's growing influence in the
semi-autonomous region.
Last year saw violent clashes between
pro-democracy protesters and police. This time, Hong Kong authorities denied
permission to march, citing security concerns and an anti-coronavirus ban on
more than four public gatherings.
What happened in the protest?
Crowds gather in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay
shopping district. Some chanted slogans such as: "End the police",
and "Free Hong Kong, the revolution of our time". A popular
pro-democracy slogan banned by the Hong Kong government for alleged separatist
sentiments.
"In today's China, those who seek
independence are oppressed while the oppressors are in power," activist Li
Chekiang told reporters.
There was a heavy police presence.
Officers used banners to warn the crowd that they were violating national
security law by chanting their protest slogans.
Hong Kong news outlet HK01 reported that
some protesters were handcuffed by police and snatched by a’ coach.
Earlier on Thursday, Hong Kong police
reminded residents that violating the Public Order Ordinance carries a maximum
sentence of five years in prison, while rioting carries a maximum sentence of
10 years.
Order restored?
Last year, there were seven months of
anti-government and violent anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Since then,
China has enacted a controversial security law that critics say it seeks to end
dissent.
The arrests came as Hong Kong's chief
executive, Kerry Lam, said at a National Day reception on Thursday that
"society has been restored and national security has been secured."
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