HK arrests 53 oppn figures, sparks outcry

China’s crackdown in Hong Kong escalated dramatically on Wednesday with police arresting 53 opposition figures of their largest operation since a draconian safety legislation was imposed on the monetary hub.The sweep is the most recent salvo in Beijing’s battle to stamp out dissent within the metropolis after tens of millions hit the streets in 2019 with enormous and generally violent democracy protests. Police confirmed 53 individuals – together with a US citizen – had been arrested for “subversion” in an early morning operation that concerned about 1,000 officers. The expenses had been sparked by an try by opposition teams final yr to win a majority within the metropolis’s partially-elected legislature. Hong Kong’s safety chief John Lee described the arrests as “necessary” and aimed toward a gaggle of people that tried to “sink Hong Kong into an abyss” and “overthrow the government”.Britain has criticised the arrests, accusing China of deceiving residents concerning the true objective of its safety legislation. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab referred to as the detentions “a grievous attack on Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms”.Germany additionally condemned the crackdown. Foreign minister Heiko Maas mentioned, “China is deviating farther from the commitments it made to Hong Kongers and the worldwide group.