HONG KONG, Dec 29 (CGTN) - The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested six current or former employees of an online media outlet on Wednesday morning, said a press release of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

The six people were arrested for conspiracy to publish seditious publications, contravening sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance, it said.

The police said in a statement that they had arrested three men and three women, aged 34 to 73, and a search of their homes was underway.

Patrick Lam, the chief editor of Stand News, and Ronson Chan, the deputy assignment editor who is also the chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, were among those detained by police, according to local media reports. Other reports said Chan is only assisting the investigation.

The other four are former legislator Margaret Ng, pop singer Denise Ho and two former board members of Stand News, Chow Tat-chi and Christine Fang.

The Hong Kong Police national security department said it conducted a search on the office of the online media company in Kwun Tong for relevant journalistic materials, adding that more than 200 police officers were involved in the operation on Wednesday.