Around 50 arrested in HK accused of violating national security law

Around 50 people were arrested in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday morning accused of violating China's national security law which took effect on June 30, 2020.

Those were arrested for their involvement in the opposition camp's so-called "primaries" for the local Legislative Council election in July.

Benny Tai Yiu-ting, the main organizer of such "primaries," was among those arrested.

These "primaries" sought to hijack public opinion under the pretext of a "referendum," a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said in response to the event on July 14.

The so-called primaries and the referendum are not stipulated in the Basic Law or any existing law pertaining to elections in Hong Kong, rendering such acts organized by any group or individual illegal, the spokesperson said.