Hong Kong silenced
China has made its move. As the world struggles to cope with the virus it exported, Beijing has finally cracked down on remaining civil liberties in Hong Kong by imposing a security law to curtail protest and free speech.
The first test is likely to come today with a planned pro-democracy march in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary of the handover in 1997. But the organisation Demosisto, which has organised many of the protests over the past year, has ceased operations, so it is unclear how many will take to the streets. Any who do risk arrest or worse.
The catch-all law signed by President Xi criminalises any act of subversion of the central government, terrorism or collusion with foreign or external forces. A new national security commission will be established to enforce the laws, with a Beijing-appointed adviser, and to ensure dissent is not spread in schools. Hong Kong’s chief executive will have the power to appoint judges to hear national security cases, a move which will end judicial independence.
What will, or can, the rest of the world do about this other than fulminate uselessly? Nato’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said it was clear that “China does not share our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law”. The only surprise in that statement was that anyone thought otherwise. Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, expressed “deep concern” and urged China to “step back from the brink”. But they are well over it now. What does the Government propose to do, if anything? Does it intend to pick a diplomatic fight with China just as it seeks to open up trade links?
The UK has offered a “route to citizenship” for Hong King citizens eligible to come here. That could involve three million people. Clearly, many would not take up the offer; but is the Government ready to cope with the exodus that might follow? Furthermore, there is a risk that the Chinese will encourage people they want to get rid of to take up that offer to clear Hong Kong of its strongest pro-democracy voices.
But the stark fact is that those voices will no longer be heard, and if they are, they will be quickly silenced. The world has made its abhorrence of China’s action crystal clear, but Beijing evidently does not care what others think. Sadly, Hong Kong, once an economic powerhouse admired around the world, faces the same totalitarian future endured by the rest of the country. The “one country, two systems” dispensation agreed with Britain before the handover exactly 23 years ago today is effectively over.