Timeline of reactions to the Hong Kong national security law (January 2021)
A dramatic manifestation of the far reach of the Hong Kong national security law was the mass arrest of 54 pro-democracy activists on 6 January. The arrested stood accused of subverting state power, a crime under the national security law, for their participation as candidates or in other capacities, in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries, which was part of a plan to increase pressure in parliament for democratic reform. Most of them were released on bail the following day. For the first time, the National Security Department of the police cited the national security law to block the website of HKChronicles. There were also several convictions in relation to the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests. 1 January New Year's protests largely suppressed, CHRF single-van protest The day marked the first time in ten years that the Hong Kong new year marches did not take place. Police was out in force to prevent illegal protests. A van with Sam Yip, Lee Cheuk-yan and Figo Chan, from which banners were hanging which read "Free all political prisoners", was traveling from a reception centre for detainees in Lai Chi Kok, where Chan shouting the foregoing slogan, to Tsim Sha Tsui and then on