Hong Kong’s national security police received over 380,000 tip-off messages on their reporting hotline and on WeChat in the two years between November 2020 and December 2022 in what they called an “encouraging response,” according to the force’s annual review for last year.
As of end-2022, 236 people had been arrested for security offences since the enactment of the Beijing-imposed national security law in June 2020, said the review released on Wednesday.
Police launched a National Security Department Reporting Hotline in November 2020. In August 2022, the police national security department opened an official account on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app similar to WhatsApp.
“The encouraging response highlights the community’s support and commitment to upholding national security,” the review read.
The police figures do not cover the current year. The Security Bureau told HKFP last month that as of July 21, 265 people had been arrested for national security offences and of the total, 161 people and five companies had been charged.
In June 2020, Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure.
The move gave police sweeping new powers, alarming democrats, civil society groups and trade partners, as such laws have been used broadly to silence and punish dissidents in China. However, the authorities say it has restored stability and peace to the city.
Increase in crime reported
Hong Kong also saw an increase in the number of crimes reported last year, from 64,428 cases in 2021 to 70,048 cases in 2022. Deception cases saw the biggest increase of 45.1 per cent to 27,923, the highest number in the last decade.
However, Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu said in the review that “traditional crimes such as robbery and burglary reached an all-time low since 1969,” and that 2022 saw “the highest detection rate in 46 years.”
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