Dozens arrested in Hong Kong amid largest crackdown of national security law

Over 50 Hong Kong opposition activists, academics and politicians have been arrested today in the region's largest crackdown under the national security law.

The raids, which involved thousands of police officers, occurred early on Wednesday morning.

The 53 individuals being detained have been accused of undermining last summer's pro-democracy primaries that ended up being postponed and in turn, planning to seriously damage society.

And police officials have warned that more arrests could be made.

Democracy activists in Hong Kong have called the arrests oppression of their right to vote and express their political views.

Other officials cited the move as that of an authoritarian regime or a dictatorship.

The Legislative Council election, which was due to be held in July 2020 but was postponed to September 2021 due to coronavirus concerns, had a turnout of over 600,000.

It is thought that the objective of the primaries, to gain a majority in the council and to veto the government's budget, opposed the anti-secession and anti-sedition clauses within the national security law imposed last year.

Breaching these elements of the security legislation could result in a life-long prison sentence.