Biggest national security law crackdown yet: what happened, and what's next?

What a dramatic first week to set the tone for the new year, with international news dominated by the storming of the Capitol by US President Donald Trump’s supporters.Almost as stunning for us in Hong Kong, authorities have launched the biggest crackdown yet under the city’s national security law.Police last Wednesday arrested more than 50 opposition activists, including former lawmakers, over their roles in the pan-democratic camp’s unofficial, primary election run-off in July 2020.While the mass arrests sparked an outcry among many who saw them as suppression of dissent and democratic aspirations, officials accused key figures behind the primary of subversive intent, linking the unofficial polls to a wider strategy to paralyse and overthrow the government.Don’t miss our comprehensive coverage of this extraordinary turn of events as we go beyond the headlines to look at the consequences and implications.Yonden Lhatoo, Chief News Editor - South China Morning Post, SCMP - What a dramatic first week to set the tone for the new year, with international news dominated by the storming of the Capitol by US President Donald Trump’s supporters.Almost as stunning for us in Hong Kong, authorities have launched the biggest crackdown yet under the city’s national security law.Police last Wednesday arrested more than 50 opposition activists, including former lawmakers, over their roles in the pan-democratic camp’s unofficial, primary election run-off in July 2020.While the mass arrests sparked an outcry among many who saw them as suppression of dissent and democratic aspirations, officials accused key figures behind the primary of subversive intent, linking the unofficial polls to a wider strategy to paralyse and overthrow the government.Don’t miss our comprehensive coverage of this extraordinary turn of events as we go beyond the headlines to look at the consequences and implications.Yonden Lhatoo, Chief News Editor HONG KONG NATIONAL SECURITY LAW Monday 11th January, 2021 Dear Reader What a dramatic first week to set the tone for the new year, with international news dominated by the [storming of the Capitol]( by US President Donald Trump’s supporters. Almost as stunning for us in Hong Kong, authorities have launched [the biggest crackdown yet]( under the city’s [national security law](. Police last Wednesday arrested more than 50 opposition activists, including former lawmakers, over their roles in the pan-democratic camp’s unofficial, [primary election run-off]( in July 2020. While the mass arrests sparked an outcry among many who saw them as [suppression of dissent]( and democratic aspirations, officials accused key figures behind the primary of subversive intent, linking the unofficial polls to a wider strategy to paralyse and overthrow the government. Don’t miss our comprehensive coverage of this extraordinary turn of events as we go beyond the headlines to look at the consequences and implications. Yonden Lhatoo, Chief News Editor [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [Hong Kong national security law: 53 held for subversion in biggest crackdown yet]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [All but one among 53 held under Hong Kong national security law released]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [What sparked Hong Kong’s biggest mass arrests under national security law?]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [Can Hong Kong’s opposition camp survive the crackdown?]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [Four big questions in mass arrests of Hong Kong opposition figures]( [ ] [ ] Diplomacy [Hong Kong government hits back at Western nations critical of mass arrests]( [ ] [ ] Diplomacy [Hong Kong arrests threaten EU-China deal, European Parliament members say]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [National security law: Hong Kong activist facing up to seven years in prison]( [ ] [ ] Hong Kong [Hong Kong protests: open verdict on death of student in car park fall]( [ ] [ ] Diplomacy [China mocks US ‘double standards’ over Capitol chaos vs Hong Kong]( [ ] Series [Covid-19 pandemic: in-depth analysis one year after Wuhan]( This in-depth series on the Covid-19 disease, one year after it first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, explores the response and impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 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