China's parliament passed the controversial national security law in Hong Kong on Tuesday, media reported in the semi-autonomous territory, raising fears of a crackdown on political opposition in the former British colony. The national parliament in Beijing unanimously voted for the text, Now TV, RTHK and the South China Morning Post said Tuesday morning .
This law, which aims to suppress "separatism" , "terrorism" , "subversion" and "collusion with external and foreign forces" , aims to restore stability in the former British colony shaken last year by monster demonstrations against the central power. Opponents fear it will serve to muzzle dissent and bury the semi-autonomy and freedoms enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong.
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This text, drawn up in just six weeks and whose content is not known to the nearly 7.5 million Hong Kongers, bypasses the local legislative council. During her weekly press conference on Tuesday morning, the head of the local executive, Carrie Lam, refused to say whether this text had actually been adopted. "I don't think it's my responsibility at this time to comment on matters relating to the national security law , " said Carrie Lam.
For the pro-democracy opposition of Hong Kong and for several Western countries including the United States, the G7 or the European Union (EU), this law is on the contrary an attack on the autonomy and freedoms of the territory.