HONG KONG: Hong Kong police arrested about 370 people on Wednesday — including 10 under China’s new national security law — as thousands defied a ban on protests on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China.

Police used water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas in a series of confrontations with protesters, one day after China drew global criticism for imposing the controversial legislation on the financial hub.

Beijing said the law would restore stability after nearly a year of unrest, but instead it sparked the worst street violence in months.

Police said seven officers were injured — one was stabbed in the shoulder as he tried to make an arrest, and three others were hit by a “rioter” on a motorcycle.

Under the new law, certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight — including showing support for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet independence.

Details released by police on Wednesday accused those arrested under the new legislation of possessing indepen­dence flags, stickers and flyers.

“Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law,” security minister John Lee told reporters.

Still, many of those protesting chanted independence slogans — itself now against the law.

“What this authoritarian regime wants to do is to terrorise the people and stop them from coming out,” Chris To, a 49-year-old protester, said. Opprobrium over the law poured in from critics and western governments — led by the United States and Britain — over fears the law will usher in a new era of mainland-style political repression.

Under a deal ahead of the 1997 handover from Britain, authoritarian China guaranteed Hong Kong civil

liberties as well as judicial and legislative autonomy until 2047 in a formula known as “One Country, Two Systems”.

British foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the law breached that agreement, a registered treaty.

Britain also said it would push ahead with previously announced plans to extend a possible path to citizenship for some three million Hong Kongers. Washington’s top envoy vowed unspecified counter-measures.

“(China) promised 50 years of freedom to the Hong Kong people and gave them only 23,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

Beijing said foreign countries should keep quiet about the law, while Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hailed the legislation as the “most important development” since the city’s return to Beijing’s rule.

After huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year, authorities have shown zero tolerance for even peaceful rallies in recent months.

Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned anyway under anti-coronavirus regulations — even though local transmissions have ended.

But the July 1 anniversary has long been a polarising day in the city.

Beijing loyalists celebrate Hong Kong’s return to the Chinese motherland after a century and a half of what they consider humiliating colonial rule by Britain.

Early Wednesday, helicopters flew across Victoria Harbour carrying Chinese and Hong Kong flags, while a barge chugged past hailing the law in giant Chinese characters on scaffolds.

Democracy advocates have long used the handover date to hold rallies as popular anger towards Beijing swells — although this year’s event was banned for the first time in 17 years.

During huge pro-democracy demonstrations last year, the city’s legislature was besieged and trashed by protesters.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2020