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Hong Kong security law: flags, banners and slogans advocating independence, liberation or revolution now illegal
- Officers told at late-night police briefing they can immediately arrest anyone calling for city’s split from China in public
- Even carrying an item advocating change could lead to arrest if found during a stop and search
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Hong Kong police have been told they can immediately arrest anyone advocating the city’s independence or liberation under the new national security law.
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Even carrying an item that does so would be enough to get a person detained, a source said.
At a briefing session after the legislation came into force at 11pm on Tuesday, officers were told flags and banners bearing slogans related to independence, liberation and revolution, such as “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our time” were now illegal.
A senior superintendent in charge of the new special unit, established to enforce the law, told those at the meeting the Department of Justice had advised the force that anything advocating independence or liberation was banned.
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Anyone doing so was liable to be charged with committing secession or subversion under the new law. Either crime is now punishable by up to life in prison.
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