Mainichi wrote that Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato commented on the Hong Kong police’s arrest on Thursday of 53 pro-democracy activists, including incumbent and former lawmakers, by saying that Japan is greatly concerned about the arrests. He reportedly added that the moves made by the Hong Kong authorities since the implementation of the security legislation in Hong Kong last June have raised serious concern about respect for such basic values as freedom of speech and the press in Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” principle.