Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been arrested over suspected collusion with foreign forces under the new national security law, according to his top aide, in what is the highest-profile arrest yet under the legislation.
Mr Lai has been one of the most prominent democracy activists in the Chinese-ruled city and an ardent critic of Beijing, which imposed the sweeping new law on Hong Kong on June 30, drawing condemnation from Western countries.
The new security law punishes anything China considers subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Critics say it crushes freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, while supporters say it will bring stability after prolonged pro-democracy protests last year.
"Jimmy Lai is being arrested for collusion with foreign powers at this time," Mark Simon, a senior executive at Lai's media company Next Digital, which publishes local tabloid Apple Daily, said in a tweet early on Monday.
Hong Kong police said in a statement that seven people had been arrested on suspicion of violating the national security law but did not reveal the names of those arrested.
Apple Daily reported that Mr Lai was taken away from his home in Ho Man Tin early on Monday. The paper says one of Mr Lai's sons, Ian, was also arrested at his home.
Around 10 other people were expected to be arrested on Monday, local newspaper South China Morning Post reported, without naming its sources.
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