Hong Kong legislature unanimously passes new national security law
HONG KONG — Hong Kong lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously passed a new national security bill within a fortnight of it being tabled, fast-tracking a major piece of legislation that critics say further threatens the Chinaruled city’s freedoms.
The package, known as Article 23, punishes offences including treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets, external interference and espionage with sentences ranging from several years to life imprisonment.
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee said the law would come into effect on March 23 and called it a “historic moment for Hong Kong.”
This new slate of laws comes on top of an earlier, China-imposed national security law that had already triggered sanctions from the United States, including against Lee.
Some lawmakers, however, shrugged off the risk of further sanctions and possible credit rating downgrades.
“We have to legislate for the security of our country and Hong Kong. Whatever comes, will come. We don’t mind,” said the head of the legislature, Andrew Leung.
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, stacked with probeijing loyalists, was first presented with the bill on March 8 following a monthlong public consultation.
Authorities say the legislation is necessary to plug loopholes in the national security regime despite the enactment of the China-imposed law that has been used to jail prodemocracy activists.
The new law will have extraterritorial effect outside of Hong Kong, giving rise to fears it could be used to intimidate and restrict free speech in other jurisdictions.
Critics, including the U.S. government, say the law will further narrow freedoms and could be used to “eliminate dissent through the fear of arrest and detention.”