China congress moves to take ‘powerful measures’ on Hong Kong unrest
BEIJING, China (AFP/ Reuters) — A measure calling for “powerful’’ steps to curb Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement was submitted to China’s rubber-stamp parliament on Friday, a move expected to fan fresh protests in the semiautonomous financial hub.
The draft measure would authorize Chinese lawmakers to directly enact controversial security legislation long called for under Hong Kong’s miniconstitution but which authorities in the city have been unable to push through due to public opposition.
The proposal has been condemned by the United States and Hong Kong pro-democracy figures as a further assault on freedom in a city rocked by seven months of massive and sometimes violent anti-Beijing protests last year.
President Donald Trump warned that Washington would react “very strongly” against the attempt to gain more control over the former British colony.
Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the China’s National People’s Congress, said details of the legislation would be given on Friday when parliament holds its annual session.
“In light of the new circumstances and need, the National People’s Congress (NPC) is exercising its constitutional power” to establish a new legal framework and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, he told a briefing.
A top Chinese legislator told the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) that security legislation was needed to thwart “foreign forces’’ that China blames for the Hong Kong unrest.
These unspecified actors “have colluded with Hong Kong’s anti-China forces’’ and used the former British colony to ‘’engage in activities that endanger our country’s national security,’’ said Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC’s Standing Committee, the congress’s actual law-making organ.
“We must take powerful measures to lawfully prevent, stop and punish them,’’ Wang said.
Article 23 of the so-called Basic Law governing Hong Kong affairs under Chinese control states that the semi-autonomous city must enact national security laws to prohibit ‘’treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion’’ against the Chinese government.
Hong Kong reverted to Beijing’s control in 1997 but the clause has never been implemented due to deeply held public fears it would curtail Hong Kong’s cherished rights, such as freedom of expression and the press.
Wang said Hong Kong’s delays in implementing the security law have forced China to take action.
“More than 20 years after Hong Kong’s return, however, relevant laws are yet to materialize due to the sabotage and obstruction by those trying to sow trouble in Hong Kong and China at large, as well as external hostile forces,’’ Wang said.
The compliant NPC approves everything put forward by the Communist Party government and the measure is likely to pass during this session.
The Standing Committee would then be tasked with formulating relevant legislation “at an early date,’’ Wang said.
A senior Hong Kong government official said details on the move and its implementation remained unclear, but Hong Kong media have reported the legislation would ban secession, foreign interference, terrorism, and all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government.