Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four students, aged 16 to 21, on suspicion of secession under the city’s new National Security Law.
The case was the first under the National Security Law in which the police initiated an investigation and then made arrests.
At a media briefing on late Wednesday night, Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police, said that the three males and one female had formed a new political group online to advocate Hong Kong independence.
Police said the organization also advocated achieving their political goals by using all means necessary and working with all pro-independence groups.
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The four suspects, who also allegedly incited secession, are suspected of violating Articles 20 and 21 under the National Security Law, Li said. Li said the group’s independence advocacy occurred after the law took effect. Based on common-law principles, advocacy constitutes incitement, he said.
Police also seized cellphones, computers and files as evidence.
According to local media outlets, one of the four arrested students is Tony Chung Hon-lam, former convener of Studentlocalism, a student separatist group.
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The group’s Hong Kong branch claimed to be disbanded on June 30 before the National Security Law came into force. But its social media page on Sunday published an article advocating Hong Kong independence.
According to Article 20, a person who organizes, plans, commits or participates in any act, whether or not by force or threat of force, with a view to committing secession or undermining national unity is guilty of violating the security law. The maximum penalty for violating Article 20 is life imprisonment.
Article 21 stipulates that one who incites, assists in, abets or provides financial help or property to other people committing an offense under Article 20 are in violation of the law, punishable by imprisonment of five to 10 years.
