Hong Kong activists call for protest march against new security laws
HONG KONG (Reuters) — Hong Kong activists called for a protest march on Friday against Beijing’s plans to impose national security legislation in the city, prompting alarm that the new laws could erode its freedoms through “force and fear.”
The move hit financial markets, due to concerns the semiautonomous city’s status as a global financial hub was at risk, with Hong Kong stocks selling off as China’s parliament sat on Friday to discuss the new law.
While it was unclear whether the unauthorized march, proposed to start at noon near the central financial district and end at China’s Liaison Office, will materialize, it was a sign that Hong Kong could soon plunge into renewed unrest.
Hong Kong stocks fell 3.2%, leading falls in Asia and the Hong Kong dollar dropped slightly against the US greenback.
Speaking on Friday in his annual report to the Chinese parliament, Premier Li Keqiang said China will establish a “sound” legal system and enforcement mechanisms to ensure national security in Hong Kong and Macau, its other semi-autonomous city.
China’s proposed new legislation for Hong Kong requires the territory to quickly finish enacting national security regulations under its mini-constitution, the Basic law, according to a draft of the legislation seen by Reuters.
The document said the law will tackle secession, subversion and terrorism activities, as well as foreign interference. It says it will safeguard the central government’s “overall jurisdiction” as well as Hong Kong’s “high autonomy.” “The end of Hong Kong” Local pro-democracy lawmakers denounced the plans on Thursday night as “the end of Hong Kong.”
“Beijing is attempting to silence Hong Kongers’ critical voices with force and fear,” pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong tweeted. “Deep down protesters know. We insist not because we are strong, but because we have no other choice.”
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council urged Beijing on Friday not to lead Hong Kong into “bigger turmoil” due to wrong policy decisions.
An editorial in the statebacked China Daily newspaper late on Thursday said the proposed legislation will “better safeguard Hong Kong’s development.”
“The overreaction of those rioters and their foreign backers, who see such legislation as a thorn in their side, only testifies to the pertinence of the decision and the urgent need for such legislation,” it said.