CHINA APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL SECURITY LAW FOR HONG KONG
Chinese Premier says that it was designed to implement the one country two systems formula and its stability prosperity
BEIJING: China's parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a new controversial security law for Hong Kong, a move that critics say threatens the fundamental political freedoms and civil liberties in the semi-autonomous territory, also a major global trading hub.
China's annual political season, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic ended on Thursday with its parliament, much on the expected lines endorsed the new security law for Hong Kong, a former British territory.
The country's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), nearly unanimously approved the resolution to introduce the sweeping security legislation, which bans secession, subversion of state power, terrorism, foreign intervention and allows mainland China's state security agencies to operate in the gleaming city.
Only one delegate voted against the proposal, while 2,878 voted for and six abstained, the official media reported.
The NPC'S standing committee will now draft the law and is expected to become a law by August. It will then be implemented upon promulgation by the Hong Kong government.
Critics say the law will drastically enhance Beijing's grip over Hong Kong, which last year was roiled by anti-government protests calling for greater democracy and more autonomy from mainland China.
Addressing his annual press conference at the end of NPC session, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang defended the new law, saying that it was designed to implement the one country two systems formula and its stability prosperity.
The one country two systems is China's basic state policy.
The central government has all along fully and faithfully implemented the one country two system, under which people of Hong Kong govern themselves high degree of autonomy and acted in strict accordance with the constitution and the basic law and supported the Chief Executive and Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, (HKSAR) government in exercising governance according to law," Li said.
"The decision adopted at the NPC session is designed for the steady implementation of the one country two systems and Hong Kong long term prosperity and stability , he added.
The pro-beijing authorities in Hong Kong insist the law is essential to tackle growing violence and "terrorism", and that the territory's residents have nothing to fear from it.
Critics fear it could lead to Hong Kongers being prosecuted for criticising their or the leadership in Beijing, joining protests or exercising their current rights under local laws.
China's move has already sparked a new wave of antimainland protest in Hong Kong, a former British colony, which was handed over to Beijing on July 1, 1997.
Clashes broke out again on Wednesday, as Hong Kong's parliament debated a different proposed law, which would make it a crime to disrespect the Chinese national anthem.