Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested five trade union members and the court denied bail for four editors and journalists held on charges of endangering national security, as part of a widening crackdown on dissent in the city.
The five who were arrested are members of the General Association of Hong Kong Speech Therapists, according to local media reports.
The association published three children’’ books that authorities apparently suspect are metaphors for the political crisis. The books feature stories that revolve around a village of sheep that has to deal with wolves from a different village. The sheep take action like going on strike or escaping by boat, according to the synopses published on the association’s website.
Police confirmed they arrested two men and three women from a trade union, but did not identify them of the union.
Police said that they are suspected of conspiring to publish, distribute, display or copy seditious publications with the intent to incite hatred, violence, and other non-law-abiding acts towards the Hong Kong authorities and the judiciary by the public, in particular young children.
Hong Kong police have arrested five trade union members and a court has denied bail for four editors and journalists on charges of endangering national security, part of a widening crackdown on dissent in the city. https://t.co/SrO8qQhWVU
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 22, 2021