Thread by @ezracheungtoto

#BREAKING: Confirmed by several local media, Tony Chung, convener of the disbanded pro-independence group Student Localism, is arrested for conspiracy to invite others to commit secession. Chung is the first known arrest over the newly national security law. #HongKongProtests

Several local media have also reported that the arrest was made by the police national security division, but not agents from the Committee for Safeguarding National Security. Messages circulating on Telegram also say another convenor of the group Ho Lok-hang was also arrested.

From information circulating on Facebook and Telegram, three Student Localism members, Tony Chung, Ho Lok-hang and Yanni Ho, were arrested over the Beijing-implemented national security law. Before the law installation, the group had announced to cease operations in Hong Kong.

Netizens have suspected that the arrests were made due to this Facebook status posted by Student Localism three days ago about an advocacy of constructing Hong Kong nationalism in order to combat a brand of Chinese nationalism. Police will hold a press briefing at 11 pm today.

While Student Localism moved its operations from Hong Kong to overseas before the the national security law legislation, it shared its idea on July 19 about the prospect of its US branch. This Facebook post might also amount to what the police see as commiting secession.

The above-mentioned Facebook post on the group’s branch on the United States might very much amount to soliciting foreign interference, another crime stated under the newly implemented national security law and punishable by five to ten years of imprisonment.

Police senior superintendent Steve Li says that four people aged between 16 and 21 were arrested for inciting and organisation session and cites the group’s speech posted online, including establishing a Hong Kong republic and uniting all pro-independence powers in the city.

Steve Li adds that this is the second case the national security law is enforced. But it is the first time the police took the initiative in investigating a case that might violate the national security law, which was inserted by Beijing on June 30, and made arrests accordingly.