Numerous demonstrators were arrested during protests in Hong Kong today. The police reported 289 arrests by evening, 270 of them for illegal gatherings. Democracy activists Figo Chan and Leung Kwok-hung were among those arrested. The demonstration was directed against the new „Hong Kong law“ and campaigned for free elections.
The parliamentary elections in the Chinese special administrative region should have taken place today. Prime Minister Carrie Lam had postponed it for a year at the end of July and cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason. There were also loud international protests against the postponement of the election.
China passed a highly controversial law for Hong Kong in late June. It is directed against activities that China sees as subversive, separatist or terrorist. It is the most far-reaching encroachment on Hong Kong’s autonomy to date and gives China’s state security far-reaching powers. Hong Kong’s democratic opposition believes the law will target them.
