Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

‘I’ve got evidence,’ police chief tells disbanding Hong Kong political groups

‘I’ve got evidence,’ police chief tells disbanding Hong Kong political groups

Investigations will continue because disbanding ‘does not change the crimes that have been committed’, says Raymond Siu.

Hong Kong police have gathered evidence against various political organisations and it makes no difference to investigators if they shut down to avoid trouble under the city’s national security law , Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee has warned.

Making clear that disbanding was no “indemnity” against investigation and prosecution, he warned that such groups could still be dealt with if they or their members had broken the law.

“Whether they disband is their own choice. But if they have committed any offences, they will not be able to escape. We have preserved evidence against them,” he said.

“These people talk about freedom to cover up illegal acts committed by them, and that doesn’t make sense. Freedom is not absolute. It is not above the law. Freedom is based on legal responsibility.”

In an interview with the Post, Siu also dismissed the suggestion that recent high-profile investigations into various individuals and groups were part of preparations to ensure next year’s 25th anniversary of the city’s return to China would proceed smoothly.

The national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in June last year bans subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

Since it went into effect, 143 people aged 15 to 79 have been arrested, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and opposition lawmakers. So far, 81 have been prosecuted, one has been convicted at trial and two others have pleaded guilty.

Several newer opposition groups have folded, and more than 250 elected district councillors from the camp have resigned. Some opposition figures have also fled Hong Kong to avoid arrest.

This month alone, the pro-opposition Civil Human Rights Front – the umbrella group behind many of Hong Kong’s ­largest protests – and the city’s biggest educators’ organisation, the Professional Teachers’ Union, both announced they were disbanding amid police investigations into their activities.

Civil Human Rights Front convenor Figo Chan gestures as he is remanded in custody earlier this year.


Last Wednesday, the police force’s National Security Department sent letters to 12 members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China – the main group behind the annual vigil marking the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown – demanding information about its membership and activities.

It was the first time the department exercised its powers to investigate foreign organisations and their agents, which the alliance was accused of being.

Police chief Siu confirmed the group was suspected to have breached the national security law by acting as an agent for foreign forces.

He said that even if the alliance decided to disband, its members would have to comply with the department’s demand and surrender the information requested.

“Disbandment is not indemnity. If they choose to disband, that of course is good for society because they will not be breaking the law any more,” he said.

“But if they have committed any offences previously, whether they disband now or not will not change the crimes they have committed.”

Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairwoman of the alliance, confirmed that all seven standing committee members had received the letters and were given two weeks to respond.

She said the allegation that the alliance was a foreign agent was “ridiculous” and the group was seeking legal advice. Two alliance leaders are already in jail for taking part in unauthorised protests.

Referring to the arrests since the national security law came into effect, Siu said he would not describe them as a police action to round up “prime targets”.

He said anyone who endangered national security was a prime target, and warned that the law had not driven away the foreign forces long accused by officials of interfering in the city’s affairs.

“Collusions do exist [and] you will see that in the subsequent court trials,” he said. “Whenever there is legislation, it does not mean you can completely eradicate all criminals. There could be other people making ongoing attempts.”

Siu said the stepped-up action was not part of the preparations for next year’s handover anniversary. There has been talk that state leaders, possibly President Xi Jinping, will visit in late June for official celebrations and the inauguration of the city’s next chief executive.

Several former opposition lawmakers are among those facing prosecution under the national security law.


Asked if the police were helping to ensure that everything looked good as Hong Kong marked a political season of new beginnings, Siu said: “No. That’s not part of it. Safeguarding national security is ongoing work that we need to do, not just because of the 25th anniversary.”

But he revealed that the force had set up eight working groups to prepare for a series of celebratory events throughout next year.

The groups, which had already started working, would look into issues including manpower and equipment upgrades, as domestic terrorism remained a major security concern.

Since the national security law was introduced, eight of the 19 countries with extradition agreements with Hong Kong have suspended the deals, citing fears that suspects would face political persecution.

Siu confirmed that none of the countries responded to requests to surrender fugitives wanted for crimes related to the 2019 anti-government protests
or national security in Hong Kong.

He accused them of allowing politics to override justice, but said he hoped the situation would eventually change.

Those who had fled Hong Kong were cowards who had acted shamefully, he added, noting they remained wanted by the authorities.

“Think about these people. Are they doing any good to Hong Kong? Of course not,” he said.

“They exploited a lot of other people and kids to go out and commit crimes. After that, they escaped and absconded. This is something everyone must condemn. They will be wanted for life.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×