Chinese security law could apply to the world

Activists here ‘scrubbing their records’

Some of the Canadian activists who speak out for democracy in Hong Kong are taking drastic steps this week.

They’re not only stepping back from their advocacy roles, but trying to erase any evidence they ever had one, says Cherie Wong of Alliance Canada Hong Kong.

“My network is starting to close up, people are starting to self-censor,” she said. “Scrubbing their records and scrubbing that they were ever involved ... Deleting their Twitter feeds, deleting Facebooks, Instagram accounts.”

The reason is partly a “remarkable” provision in China’s disturbing new national security law for Hong Kong that appears to export its bans on separatism, “colluding” with foreign nations and subverting the state to every corner of the world.

The law has been condemned widely as an existential threat to the freedoms that were guaranteed when China took over Hong Kong from Britain in 1997, and that set the city apart from the mainland.

But the legislation’s Article 38 says the rules also apply to infractions that occur anywhere outside Hong Kong, committed by foreign citizens.

Activists in Canada call it an attack on their activities that at the very least will keep them from visiting Hong Kong, and could lead to more intimidation here.

“It sets the stage for an unprecedented, massive assault on the civil rights of Hong Kongers, as well as all citizens of the international community,” said Gloria Fung of the Toronto-based Canada Hong Kong Link. “This is very scary.”

See CHINA LAW on NP2