Hong Kong police arrest 53 pro-democracy advocates, U.S. lawyer, under new national security law

Hong Kong police early Wednesday arrested at least 53 pro-democracy advocates over their roles in last year’s unofficial vote to choose opposition candidates in city elections. Authorities said the vote was part of a plan to “overthrow” the government in the semi-autonomous, China-ruled former British colony. The arrests amounted to the biggest roundup of democracy advocates yet under a new national security law Beijing imposed to discourage dissent. Among the former lawmakers and activists arrested was an American citizen, lawyer John Clancey, detained during a raid on a law firm, Reuters reports . Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee…