Hong Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing s new national security law on Wednesday as the anniversary of the city s handover to China was met by thousands defying a ban on protests.
Police deployed water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas throughout the afternoon, arresting more than 180 people, seven of them for breaching the new national security law.
The confrontations came a day after China imposed its controversial legislation on the restless city, a historic move decried by many Western governments as an unprecedented assault on the finance hub s liberties and autonomy.
Beijing said the law would restore stability. But its imposition sparked the worst unrest in months.
Certain political views and symbols became illegal overnight, including showing support for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet independence.
Police said the first two national security arrests were for people possessing signs promoting independence.
“Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law,” security minister John Lee told reporters.
Many of those protesting on Wednesday chanted independence slogans.
“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, told AFP.
Police said one officer was stabbed in the shoulder as he tried to make an arrest.
