Washington 'outraged' By National Day Arrests

The US State Department has condemned Hong Kong's government and police, saying it is "outraged" by the arrest of more than 80 people in an operation to stop unauthorised protests on Thursday.

The SAR's police mounted a high-profile operation in Causeway Bay on Thursday after calls went out online to mark the National Day holiday with a protest. In the end, 86 people were arrested.

In a statement late on Saturday, Washington's State Department said: "We are outraged at the Hong Kong government’s arbitrary arrest of more than 80 people on October 1. 

"By repressing peaceful public opinion, the Hong Kong government once again shows its complicity with the Chinese Communist Party’s evisceration of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms of its people.

"We deplore the local authorities’ continued use of law enforcement for political purposes, which is contrary to the preservation of the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights to assembly and free expression."

The statement comes at a time of turmoil in Washington, with US President Donald Trump and various other administration figures testing possible for Covid-19. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scrapped plans to visit Mongolia and South Korea this week, but will still go to Japan.

In Hong Kong, plans for a march on Thursday were rejected by the police and an appeal board, citing coronavirus restrictions that prevent gatherings of more than four people.

Organisers had wanted to protest for the release of 12 Hong Kong people detained in Shenzhen after being picked up by the mainland coastguard while attempting to flee to Taiwan.

Local and central authorities had warned against any protest, citing online posts calling for violence.