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Beijing: People's Congress Approves Hong Kong Security Law

2020-05-28T15:19:46.562Z


Thousands are taking to the streets in Hong Kong and the United States has requested a Security Council meeting. Nevertheless, the controversial security law for Hong Kong was passed in Beijing.


Thousands are taking to the streets in Hong Kong and the United States has requested a Security Council meeting. Nevertheless, the controversial security law for Hong Kong was passed in Beijing.

Beijing (AP) - Despite massive international criticism and US threats of sanctions, China's People's Congress has approved plans for a new security law in Hong Kong.

At the end of their annual meeting, MEPs instructed the Parliament's Standing Committee on Thursday to pass the so-called National Security Protection Law in China's Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong protests against Beijing influence have been going on for months.

The law bypasses Hong Kong's parliament and targets activities that are considered subversive or separatist. The project would be the most extensive encroachment on the autonomy of the former British crown colony so far. Hong Kong has been governed as a separate territory since it was returned to China in 1997, following the "one country, two systems" principle.

The plans have met with strong criticism internationally. The Federal Government has expressed great concern. The United States is even considering sanctions. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the special benefits for Hong Kong are no longer justified because of China's increasing involvement in the actually autonomous metropolis. There is a lot at stake for Hong Kong's companies and citizens - from higher tariffs to visas for travel to the United States. The importance of the financial center, which is also important for China, could also be endangered.

The law is also against foreign interference. Chinese security organs are said to be used in Hong Kong "if necessary" for enforcement. The pro-democratic forces fear that they will become the goal of the law. The Asian economic metropolis has seen demonstrations against the government appointed by Beijing, police brutality in the protests and the growing influence of the communist leadership every week since last summer.

China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang defended the plans. At the end of the annual meeting, the Prime Minister told the press on Thursday that the law was designed to "consistently implement" the "one country, two systems" principle. It would ensure "long-term stability and prosperity" in Hong Kong. However, his statements were remarkably short and vague.

Katja Drinhausen of the China Institute Merics in Berlin warned that the proposed law would "allow the Chinese government" far greater access to people and organizations in Hong Kong. There is a "justified fear" that freedom of expression and the press, the rule of law and civil society as well as international exchange will be massively restricted.

The approximately 2900 MPs in the Great Hall of the People also approved the budget with a sharp increase in the military budget of 6.6 percent. To boost the economy in the Corona crisis, higher government spending, new bonds and a reduction in taxes and duties are planned. The budget deficit should rise above the critical mark from three percent to more than 3.6 percent. The Chinese parliament, which has not been freely elected, has never rejected a bill in its history.

Prime Minister Li Keqiang said that China still has scope to deal with the economic consequences. "We are in a strong position to introduce new measures." He rejected an economic program from the watering can. "We will not flood China with liquidity."

For fear of an excessively large increase in debt and because of the continuing uncertainties, the measures taken to stimulate the world's second largest economy are, according to experts, lower than after the global financial crisis in 2008. For the first time in almost two decades, the government has not set a target for the economy . Growth had slumped by 6.8 percent in the first quarter. In the previous year it was 6.1 percent.

Because of the outbreak of the corona virus, the annual conference had to be postponed in March - for the first time in the recent history of the People's Republic. The approximately 2900 MPs were tested at least twice on Sars-CoV-2. The conference was also shortened to one week.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-05-28

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