US lawyer hopeful after Hong Kong security law arrest

An American human rights lawyer who was the first foreigner charged under the national security law in Hong Kong said Friday he had done nothing wrong.

John Clancey, who works at law firm Ho Tse Wai & Partners, was one of 53 activists arrested last week. He was later released on bail.

"I don't think I've done anything wrong that merits time in prison," he said in an interview.

"You live according to your conscience, you live according to your principles," he said. "Even in the darkest days, I think it's very important to maintain hope."

Clancey and the other activists are accused of taking part in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities say was part of a plan to paralyze the government and subvert state power.

The mass arrests were the largest move against Hong Kong's democracy movement since Beijing imposed the law last June to quell dissent in the semi-autonomous territory following months of anti-government protests in 2019.

The primaries were held by the pro-democracy camp to determine the best candidates to field as they sought to gain a majority in Hong Kong's legislature.

While most of those arrested were candidates in the primaries, Clancey was a treasurer for political organization Power for Democracy, which was involved in the event.

The arrests have drawn condemnation from the U.N., the U.S. and Europe.

The security law covers acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in the city's affairs. Serious offenders face up to life imprisonment.

"The courts in Hong Kong, the judges, ultimately will have to decide which takes precedence, and which is stronger, internationally-recognised rights we have from birth, or is it going to be the National Security Law," Clancey said.