Senior superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of Hong Kong police's national security branch briefs the media outside the police headquarters in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Jan 6, 2021. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police arrested 53 people on Wednesday on suspicion of violating the National Security Law by planning to pressure the chief executive to step down and “paralyze” the government, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said.

Senior superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of police's national security branch confirmed that 53 people aged between 23 and 64 had been arrested on suspicion of subversion under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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Those arrested were apparently involved in an independently organized ballot organized by the opposition camp ahead of the now-shelved legislative election last year.

Of them, according to Li, six organized and plotted the campaign and others participated in it.

Hong Kong security chief John Lee said the ballot was part of a vicious plan devised by a group of activists to paralyze the Hong Kong government by vetoing the financial budget after obtaining 35 seats or more in the Legislative Council

With a court warrant, police searched 72 locations across the city and obtained necessary documents from four companies, Li said. This apart, police froze capital amounting to HK$1.6 million in relation to the case.

Meeting reporters at noon, Hong Kong's secretary for security justified police action. He said the ballot was part of a vicious plan devised by a group of activists to paralyze the Hong Kong government by vetoing the financial budget after obtaining 35 seats or more in the Legislative Council.

Opposition figures had hoped to access a provision in Hong Kong's charter to force Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to resign by voting down her budget. 

Days after the informal ballot, Lam warned that any planned action to paralyze the government's administration was potentially subversive and a violation of the National Security Law.

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Those arrested reportedly include Benny Tai Yiu-ting, leading organizer of the so-called primaries, and also former lawmakers James To Kun-sun, Andrew Wan Siu-kin, Roy Kwong Chun-yu, Helena Wong Pik-wan, Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Gary Fan Kwok-wai and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen. Some sitting district councilors are reportedly also on the list.

Dubbed “35-plus primaries”, the political maneuver was designed to pick opposition candidates for the Legislative Council election originally scheduled on Sept 6, 2020 until it was postponed by the government to Sept 5, 2021, over COVID-19 concerns. 

The maneuver was an attempt to win a majority in the 70-seat city legislature, which some candidates said could be used to block government proposals and ultimately paralyze LegCo operations.

A timeline graphic presented by police showed that the idea of handicapping the government by securing a majority in the legislature was proposed in March. A month later, the activists formed solid plans – to gain 35 seats and above and veto the financial budget twice to stop government operation. In June, they set election dates, and started crowdfunding and promotion via social media platforms and forums. After the informal ballot was held on July 11 and 12, the result was announced on July 13. The organizer said about 610,000 local residents voted.

According to a Facebook post, on Wednesday morning, police also searched the residence of local activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, alleging he had violated the National Security Law as well

Senior superintendent Li said the plan was executed step by step with strong determination and abundant resources, adding that the only goal was to paralyze the government, which violated Article 22 of the National Security Law.

The security secretary said the well-calculated scheme, which also involved instigating massive riots as well as seeking international sanctions to pressure authorities, sought to destroy Hong Kong’s future. 

If the plan had gone through, Hong Kong would have suffered incalculable losses and been thrown into an abyss, Lee said. 

He said police action was based on laws and evidence. After investigation, the police force will seek the Department of Justice's opinion on follow-up actions. Lee made it clear that subversion would not be tolerated and the government would strictly enforce the laws.

The maximum penalty for subversion under the National Security Law is life imprisonment. 

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According to a Facebook post, on Wednesday morning, police also searched the residence of local activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, alleging he had violated the National Security Law as well. Wong is currently serving a 13.5-month jail term for his role in an unauthorized assembly during the anti-government protests in 2019.

Prior to Wednesday’s arrest, at least 40 people have been arrested under the National Security Law for Hong Kong since it was implemented on June 30 last year, including Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Next Media, which owns Apple Daily. 

In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the Hong Kong government stressed it had zero tolerance for subversive acts and that it would take deterrent actions as necessary.

It said the operation of the national security department of the police has only targeted active players who are suspected of organizing, planning, committing or participating in subversion. It does not involve people who played a passive role or only voted in the so-called "primary election."

Stressing that endangering national security is a serious crime, the government said it will take resolute enforcement action to achieve a deterrent effect.