Name: Hong Kong authorities arrest 11 over activists’ attempted Taiwan boat escape
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Hong Kong authorities arrest 11 over activists’ attempted Taiwan boat escape

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This article was published more than&nbsp;2 years agoCommentGift ShareHONG KONG — Hong Kong's national security police on Thursday arrested 11 people accused of helping a group of activists attempt to , according to and friends of those detained, expanding the dragnet around those connected with the democracy movement.The group of activists, known as the Hong Kong 12, were captured by Chinese authorities at sea in August and held incommunicado for months; 10 were by a Chinese court to prison terms of between seven months and three years. The other two, both minors at the time of their attempted escape, were returned to Hong Kong and remain in custody.The sweep of the additional 11 on Thursday in a predawn raid underscored a since Beijing imposed a national security law in June that curtailed political freedoms in Hong Kong. The city’s leader, Carrie Lam, promised that the law would be used against a “” of people, but authorities have wielded their new powers broadly, arresting more than 100 people since then, including former lawmakers, moderate activists and others across the ranks of civil society.Police said they could not immediately comment on Thursday’s arrests, which came just over a week after more than were arrested on national security grounds.Those detained Thursday include a lawyer, Daniel Wong Kwok-tung, who is also a district councilor, a local elected official. Wong, who helped many protesters arrested during anti-government demonstrations in 2019, also that employs Hong Kongers living in exile there. A musician, Rono Fok, was .National security officers conducted the arrests, according to social media posts and friends of those held, but police have not yet detailed whether the alleged crimes fall under the security law.AdvertisementPeople previously arrested under the security law and others held on politically related offenses in the city have had their passports confiscated, as authorities worry about the influence of the growing number of Hong Kongers in exile abroad.Fears about the reach of the security law, which such as secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion, prompted restaurants to remove ­pro-democracy posters and activists to disband their groups in recent months. In the wake of the law, some Hong Kong residents have left the city, fearing persecution. Some arrested and charged with political crimes have skipped bail and are living without formal legal status in Western countries and Taiwan.Daniel Wong Kwok-tung chanting "Persists in Democracy, Rule of Law, Human Rights, 't give up!" when escorted out from district councillor office after arrest for alleged assiting to flee Taiwan (Video via ) — Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng)Others, including the 12 who tried to flee by boat, have tried other means of escape as the police had already confiscated their passports and travel documents.AdvertisementIn response to the crackdown, Western countries have tried to formalize pathways to residency and asylum for people fleeing Hong Kong, notably Britain, Hong Kong’s former colonial ruler.The British government last year offered an avenue for some 3&nbsp;million Hong Kong residents by allowing Hong Kongers who hold a , a holdover from the colonial era, to obtain British residency and eventually citizenship.The BNO measure will go into effect later this month. Leading pro-Beijing figures in Hong Kong have called for China to to punish those leaving, including potentially forcing them to give up foreign citizenship.Theodora Yu contributed to this report. CommentsGift ArticleTOP STORIESGoing GlobalEssential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world.Try a different topic or to save your preferences

This article was published more than&nbsp;2 years agoCommentGift ShareHONG KONG — Hong Kong's national security police on Thursday arrested 11 people accused of helping a group of activists attempt to , according to and friends of those detained, expanding the dragnet around those connected with the democracy movement.The group of activists, known as the Hong Kong 12, were captured by Chinese authorities at sea in August and held incommunicado for months; 10 were by a Chinese court to prison terms of between seven months and three years. The other two, both minors at the time of their...

Hong Kong authorities arrest 11 over activists’ attempted Taiwan boat escape

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