Forty-seven Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners and activists were charged on Sunday with conspiracy to commit subversion in the largest single crackdown on the Opposition under a China-imposed national security law.

Among them was Sam Cheung, a 27-year-old activist and a participant in an unofficial primary election last summer, who was charged after reporting to a local police station.

“Hong Kongers have a really tough time these days,” he told reporters before entering the station. “I hope everyone won’t give up on Hong Kong... (and) fight on.”

Cheung was arrested in a dawn raid along with 54 other pro-democracy campaigners on January 6 in the largest national security operation since the law passed last June.

They were accused of organising and participating in the unofficial primary last July aimed at selecting the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

Hong Kong police said in a statement they had laid a charge against 47 persons with the single count. They will appear in court on Monday morning.

The decision to charge many activists in a single swoop could potentially strike hard at the Opposition movement. Those charged included veterans such as Leung Kwok-hung, Eddie Chu and Alvin Yeung; former law professor Benny Tai and prominent young campaigners such as Lester Shum, Joshua Wong and Owen Chow.

The European Union Office in Hong Kong called for the immediate release of those arrested. “The nature of these charges makes it clear that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated in Hong Kong,” it said in a statement.

Defiant gestures

Some who reported to police stations across the city pumped their fists and expressed defiance, flanked by supporters.

“Constant suppression would never abate our faith,” said Jimmy Sham.

Of those arrested in January, only eight were not charged on Sunday, including US human rights lawyer John Clancey and veteran activist James To, who remain on bail.

The tightening legal noose on local activists comes as Chinese officials prepare to unveil electoral reforms that will likely further diminish the role and influence of Opposition forces in public office.

“This is a very strong signal from President Xi (Jinping) that he wants to eradicate the whole pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong,” exiled activist Sunny Cheung, had himself taken part in the primary election, told Reuters by phone.

“If the international community doesn’t react to the authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi will win and liberty and democracy will fall.”

A rights advocacy group, Power for Democracy, which co-organised the primary elections, said in a Facebook post it had disbanded.

Hong Kong police say 99 individuals have been arrested for suspected violations of the security laws so far.

Some of these, including media mogul and prominent China critic Jimmy Lai, have been denied bail despite protracted legal appeals.

The sweeping national security laws punish acts of subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with possible life imprisonment.

China justified the laws to restore order following mass protests in 2019 against perceived Chinese suppression of Hong Kong’s basic liberties and autonomy under the “one country, two systems” arrangement. This was put in place in 1997 when the city reverted from British to Chinese rule.