Hong Kong police say 53 arrested in operation involving 1,000 national security officers

Hong Kong police said on Wednesday 53 people were arrested in a swoop on pro-democracy activists that involved about 1,000 national security officers, the biggest crackdown yet on the Chinese-ruled city's opposition camp.

Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of police under the national security department, was speaking at a press briefing shortly after Secretary for Security John Lee said the government will not tolerate "subversive" acts.

Earlier, authorities arrested prominent pro-democracy advocates tied to an unofficial, independently organised vote in July 2020 to select opposition candidates for a since-postponed legislative election. (Reporting By Clare Jim and Donny Kwok; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Himani Sarkar)