Hong Kong’s national security arrests ‘make up 0.2% of wider annual police tally’
Chief Executive John Lee says ‘small portion’ of national security arrests reinforces message that such legislation only affects minority
The average number of people apprehended in Hong Kong annually over national security-related offences only made up 0.2 per cent of arrests each year, the city’s leader has said, arguing that the relevant legislation has achieved its aim of targeting a small minority.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that police had made 332 arrests in connection with such offences since Beijing’s promulgation of the national security law in 2020.
He noted that the figure amounted to 66 arrests a year, just 0.2 per cent of the annual average of about 30,000 arrests for all criminal offences.
“It’s really a small portion,” Lee said at a media briefing before his weekly Executive Council meeting.
“When we promulgated the Hong Kong national security law, we made it very clear that the law is aimed at only a small portion of people who endanger national security. This figure reinforces that clear message.”
Police last year made 36,269 arrests for various criminal offences, a 6.3 per cent increase from the 34,135 recorded in 2023.