China approves contentious new Hong Kong national security law
● Deep concern expressed around the world as Beijing tightens its grip
China has approved a contentious national security law that will allow authorities to crack down on subversive and secessionist activity in Hong Kong.
It is a move many experts see as Beijing’s boldest yet to erase the legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system.
President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order promulgating the law, which will be added to Hong Kong’s constitution.
“We hope the law will serve as a deterrent to prevent people from stirring up trouble,” said Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative in Beijing. “Don’t let Hong Kong be used as a tool to split the country.”
He said punishments would not include the death penalty, but did not elaborate on further details.
Passage of the law came amid fears in Hong Kong and abroad that it would be used to curb opposition voices in the Asian financial hub. The United States has already begun moves to end special trade terms given to Hong Kong after the former British colony was returned to China in 1997.
The UK had offered to allow almost three million of Hong Kong’s inhabitants the opportunity to come to Britain if Beijing imposes the law.
The legislation is aimed at curbing subversive, secessionist and terrorist activities, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s affairs. It follows months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year that at times descended into violence.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the law would “only target an extremely small minority” of lawbreakers, would not be retroactive, and that mainland legal bodies would only have jurisdiction in “rare, specified situations.”
Critics say it is the most significant erosion to date of Hong Kong’s British-style rule of law and the high degree of autonomy that Beijing promised Hong Kong would enjoy at least through until 2047 under a “one country, two systems” framework.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he was “deeply concerned” and will make a further statement analysing the full legislation.
Boris Johnson has said he would effectively upgrade the status of British National (Overseas) passports, which 350,000 people in Hong Kong hold and 2.5 million are eligible to apply for, to grant immigration rights beyond the current six-month limit.
The last British colonial governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, said the decision “rides roughshod over Hong Kong’s elected legislature”.
Reaction around the world was also negative.
European Council president Charles Michel said: “This law risks seriously undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and having a detrimental effect on the independence of the judiciary and rule of law, and we deplore this decision.”
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Nathan Law issued statements on Facebook saying they would withdraw from their organisation Demosisto, which then announced that it would disband with the loss of its top members.
Wong said “worrying about life and safety” has become a real issue and nobody will be able to predict the repercussions of the law, whether it is being extradited to China or facing long jail terms.
More than a hundred protesters gathered at a luxury mall in Hong Kong’s Central business district, chanting slogans including “Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now,” with several holding up a flag representing an independent Hong Kong.