HONG KONG - The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) backed Hong Kong police's action in arresting 53 opposition figures on suspicion of violating the National Security Law on Wednesday.

The arrests were made for their alleged involvement in an independently organized ballot organized by the opposition camp ahead of the now-shelved legislative election last year.

Organizers claimed 610,000 local residents voted in the exercise held over July 11 and 12 with the so-called results announced the following day.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the office expressed firm support to police's law enforcement action and the Hong Kong government's determination to safeguard national security, adding the action only targeted suspects who organized or carried out the plan, not local residents who were misled to vote.

The maneuver was an attempt to win a majority in the 70-seat city legislature, which some candidates said could be used to block government proposals and ultimately paralyze LegCo operations.

The spokesperson said that the implementation of Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a turning point for the city to restore order. Only strictly enforcing the law can guarantee the long-term stability of society and the sound and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems".

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also threw its weight behind police action on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the office said anyone who violates the National Security Law shall be liable for legal consequences. The office supported police in discharging its duty to fight against acts endangering national security in accordance with the law.

In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the Hong Kong government stressed it had zero tolerance for subversive acts and that it would take deterrent actions as necessary.