The push for Australia to do more comes after Hong Kong police arrested more than 50 people, including pro-democracy politicians and campaigners, in early morning raids on Wednesday. New figures released to Guardian Australia show 2,584 Hong Kong passport holders have had their Australian visas extended. Fears about the crackdown on civil rights in Hong Kong were heightened this week with the detention of the 53 individuals accused of “subverting state power” by holding primaries for pro-democracy candidates for the Hong Kong election. With relations between China and Australia already strained, any further offers to Hong Kong would likely attract further ire from Beijing. In July China accused Australia of “gross interference” for its visa offer and for suspending an extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2021 18:56 UTC