Hong Kong police arrest dozens of pro-democracy activists | DW News

Police in Hong Kong have arrested 53 pro-democracy activists. A government minister said they were detained for planning to "paralyze and overthrow" the city government. It's the Chinese territory's biggest crackdown yet on the opposition, under a new security law imposed by Beijing.
The dawn raids mark a sharp escalation of Hong Kong's crackdown on the opposition. Dozens of prominent pro-democracy campaigners were arrested at private homes, law firms and media outlets.
Former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting recorded the moment police arrived at his house.
The arrests have left some residents stunned, but Beijing denied it was clamping down on dissidents.
The detainees stand accused of trying to overthrow the government, after they held unofficial primaries last July to field candidates ahead of elections to Hong Kong's legislative council.
Under the one country, two systems policy, Hong Kong was given greater autonomy when it was handed back to China from Britain in 1997. The agreement expires in 2047.
One pro-democracy activist told DW that Beijing's security law has rendered that agreement meaningless.
Activists are calling Wednesday's sweeping arrests an attempt to further weaken the opposition ahead of the legislative elections, scheduled for September.
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