Cantopop singer Hins Cheung, who previously expressed support for social movements in Hong Kong, will lead young people arrested during the 2019 anti-government protests on visits to mainland China to witness the country’s prosperity and serve as a mentor for a “special rehabilitation project” under the Security Bureau.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also revealed on Saturday that the project, which had been running over the past two years, was aimed at helping about 7,000 people arrested but not prosecuted during the protests.

In an interview with the Wen Wei Po newspaper published on Saturday, the 45-year-old singer expressed “deep repentance” for his past words and actions, saying he would personally lead youth exchange visits to the mainland during the first half of the year.

Cheung also said he had been “impetuous in his youth”, lacked a “thorough understanding of the social situation” and that some of his past performances were “inappropriate”, leading the public to doubt his patriotism.

He voiced support for protests against national education in 2012 and the Occupy Central civil disobedience movement in 2014, when he sang its theme song with actor Anthony Wong Chau-sang.

“I know many people have questioned my love for my country and Hong Kong because of this. Today, I offer my sincere apology,” he said.