From HKFP, more details about the Hong Kong and Beijing joint NatSec operation…
Hong Kong police have coordinated with Beijing’s national security office to search the residences of six people suspected of foreign collusion, the first known joint operation between the two entities.
The police force said in a statement on Thursday evening that China’s Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS) requested assistance from the police’s National Security Department (NSD) to investigate six people suspected of colluding with “a foreign country or with external elements” to endanger national security from November 2020 to June 2024.
According to the police statement, the NSD obtained court warrants and searched the homes of the six people, as well as the office of a related organisation in Kwai Chung, on Thursday.
Police officers “seized exhibits, including bank documents, devices, etc., for further investigation,” it added.
As well as being the first (or first known) joint operation, it is noteworthy because there have been no arrests or charges. The SCMP story suggests that the case could be the first in which Beijing’s NatSec office assumes jurisdiction, with trials taking place in the Mainland…
It is highly unusual for Hong Kong authorities to publicly announce that “interviews” with law enforcement have been arranged.
…Under [Article 55 of the 2020 NatSec Law], the [OSNS] shall exercise jurisdiction over cases deemed complex due to the involvement of a foreign country or external elements, making it difficult for Hong Kong to proceed.
“Now, it could be a stage when [authorities] want to confirm whether there is such a possibility [to invoke Article 55],” [pro-government lawyer Ronny] Tong said. “We do not rule out that some complicated matters could be beyond [the capabilities] of Hong Kong courts.
“For example, when a case involves acts done by those in the mainland or foreign countries, in which Hong Kong has difficulties in dealing with relevant evidence.”
…Thomas Kellogg, executive director of the Centre for Asian Law at Georgetown University …
[expects] the subsidiary legislation enacted last month signalled that Beijing’s office “will play an increased role in national security investigations and cases going forward”.
“Complexity or foreign involvement [as written in the law] doesn’t provide meaningful limits on what cases can be sent to the mainland under Article 55…
What is ‘collusion with foreign forces’ (which Joshua Wong, already in prison, has recently been charged with)? It sounds like it should relate to actions involving espionage or sabotage. In practice, it seems to be about expressing the wrong ideas. If you go to Washington DC, meet the US Secretary of State and tell him Hong Kong has perfect rule of law and no human rights violations, that’s not collusion. But if you say Hong Kong has turned authoritarian and you lobby for sanctions against the city’s officials, that is collusion. Maybe this new case will be different.
David Webb says: Ooh, I got a gong! He is now a ‘Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’.
I always thought that Joshua Wong was a thicko. He never uttered a word without reading it off a handset. Presumably, one or more of his ‘handlers’ drafted for him statements, which he then got to trot out. Anyway, the authorities have lasered-in on him. He’ll not be going home anytime soon.
Related to David Webb’s Other Buggers’ medal, I bet a few readers here would like to see things here revert to its former British Empire setting: “Bring back Chris Patten and things will be fine and dandy.”
Who’s been handing you your drivel the last few years, Rectum?
Reactor #4 says: “I always thought that Joshua Wong was a thicko.”
Yes, that must be why the authorities are so afraid of him.
Off topic I know but Mike Rowse bowled an absolute corker in today’s SCMP:
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3314133/how-harvard-international-could-boost-hong-kong-education-hub
Basically, give Harvard free land for 100 years in return for their setting up a Harvard franchise. Nice one!
Why is Mike Rowse still alive?
Re Rousers proposal, we have been down that road already with the University of Chicago Booth campus in Pofulam, partially funded by HK$234 million Social Impact Grant made by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust – inother words plundered from funds meant for genuine local grass root services.
The honour and glory, not to mention visible benefits, that has brought to the territory have been, shall we say, UNDERWHELMING.
Education at this level is a commercial undertaking and it is high time operations, like international schools, pay full land premium and are taxed on revenue.
@reductio: I’m sure Harvard would salivate at the prospect of jumping from one authoritarian control freak situation over how it runs its business to ANOTHER.
😆