China security office flexes new power with Hong Kong probe
Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong has carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub.
Local authorities on Thursday night announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement.
Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organization, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents.
The suspects are accused of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities.
The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control.
Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term.
In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it "strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply.
The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel.
While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system.
The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide "all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request.
The new rules also criminalize acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines.
The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
3 hours ago
- NHK
Vietnam joins BRICS as partner country
Vietnam has been officially admitted as the 10th partner country of the BRICS group of emerging economies. While partners lack decision-making power, they can take part in the BRICS Leaders' Summit. Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson, Pham Thu Hang, said in a press conference on Thursday that the country is "ready to coordinate and connect the cooperation programs of the BRICS group with relevant multilateral mechanisms, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, as well as in the world." She also said the country is willing to work with other members in areas such as trade and investment. BRICS was originally made up of the five emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It has since expanded to 11 members, including Middle Eastern nations, such as Iran and Egypt. Some Southeast Asian countries, which are strengthening economic ties with China, have also shown interest in joining the bloc. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened BRICS members that try to use their own currency for financial transactions. He says these nations could face 100 percent tariffs if they move away from the US dollar.
NHK
3 hours ago
- NHK
New Zealand, China leaders affirm importance of economic ties
The leaders of New Zealand and China have affirmed the importance of their country's economic ties. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing. This is Luxon's first visit to China since he took office in November 2023. Luxon said he wants to maintain healthy trade ties with China, which is his country's largest trading partner. He cited education and tourism as areas for cooperation. Meanwhile, Xi noted the two nations share a long relationship that has delivered tangible benefits to both sides. But differences remain between the two countries. China has been lobbying New Zealand in its efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or CPTPP. New Zealand is already a signatory of the pact, but China's move puts it in a difficult position as other members have reportedly raised concerns Beijing cannot meet the agreement's high standards. The meeting also came one day after New Zealand announced it will halt millions of dollars in financial aid to the Cook Islands. The island chain signed a strategic partnership agreement with China without telling New Zealand. The two Pacific nations are obliged to consult each other on defense and security matters.
Japan Times
5 hours ago
- Japan Times
Hyogo governor referred to prosecutors over alleged vote-buying
Police referred Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito to prosecutors Friday on suspicion of vote-buying over his alleged payments to a public relations company for campaign activities in the prefecture's gubernatorial election last November, people familiar with the investigation said. The prefectural police sent papers on Saito, 47, to prosecutors after a criminal complaint was filed last December over the governor's alleged payments in violation of the public offices election law. The police also sent papers on the 33-year-old president of the PR firm. Saito has also been referred to prosecutors for an alleged breach of trust related to a victory parade for local baseball teams. The governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters in Kobe on Friday, Saito said, "There is no change in my recognition that I've acted in compliance with laws, including the public offices election law." The PR company president has not responded to requests for comment. Saito is suspected of paying ¥715,000 to the PR firm on Nov. 4 last year for work on his re-election campaign, which included planning a PR strategy and managing the campaign's social media presence. The PR company president said in an online post on Nov. 20, 2024, three days after the election, that her company had been tasked with overall PR activities by Saito's team. The governor later refuted her claim during a news conference. In December, a lawyer and a university professor filed a criminal complaint against Saito over the alleged payments. After the PR firm refused to cooperate adequately with requests for voluntary questioning and document submissions, investigators seized evidence, including a smartphone, during a raid on the company's office in February. Saito first took office as Hyogo governor in August 2021. After being ousted from the post by the prefectural assembly last September over harassment allegations, he won re-election two months later.
