'Liberate Hong Kong' slogan banned as protesters lay low

City government declares slogan subversive' and says anyone using it risks prosecution

Hong Kong on Thursday banned the most resonant slogan of its protest movement as those who had taken to the streets over the past year appeared to be laying low the day after the introduction of sweeping draconian national security laws prompted demonstrations, violence, and mass arrests.

A statement from the city government declared that Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time" had separatist connotations and was subversive", and that anyone using it risked prosecution under the new security legislation.