HK police arrest 53 during fresh protests

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police arrested 53 people during protests on Tuesday evening that saw hundreds of activists take to the streets, at times blocking roads in the heart of the global financial hub, before police fired pepper spray to disperse crowds.

The protests were called to mark a year of mostly violent anti-government rallies in the special administrative region (SAR).

Police said on Wednesday that 36 males and 17 females had been arrested for offences, including unlawful assembly and participating in unauthorized assembly. Protesters had defied a ban on gatherings of more than eight people introduced by the Hong Kong government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. More protests are planned in coming days and Hong Kong police have warned people against taking part in unlawful assemblies.

While details of a proposed security law or how it will operate have yet to be revealed, central government authorities and the Hong Kong government have repeatedly said there is no cause for concern and the legislation will target a minority of "troublemakers."

Hong Kong Security Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu told the South China Morning Post in an interview published on Wednesday that local police were setting up a dedicated unit to enforce the law and it would have intelligence gathering, investigation and training capabilities.

Companies including HSBC and Standard Chartered have backed the proposed security law.