Rumours About Police Could Breach New Law: Beijing

A deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Zhang Xiaoming, said on Wednesday that people who spread "rumours" about the police could breach the SAR's new national security law.

At a press conference on the legislation in Beijing, Zhang cited the persistent claims that police beat people to death at Prince Edward MTR Station on August 31 last year as an example.

He said people who accuse officers of such things could be deemed to be inciting hatred against the force.

Inciting hatred against the authorities is included as a crime under the new legislation, although this comes under the category of collusion with foreign forces.

Zhang also said that anyone arrested and charged by the mainland's security office which will be set up in Hong Kong will be taken across the border for trial.

He said new the national security law is the turning point for Hong Kong to return to a normal track.