China clears Hong Kong's national security law

The National People's Congress, the legislative branch of the Chinese Parliament, has given the green light to the adoption of the Hong Kong National Security Law. In the last votes of the final session, the assembly also approved the first Civil Code of the People's Republic. The assembly approved with 2,878 votes in favor, one against and 6 abstentions, the proposal to impose on the former British colony a law that will punish secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and acts that endanger national security. 

In view of the vote, after the announcement of the measure last week, Hong Kong has seen rising protests that, between Sunday and Wednesday, led to the arrest of over 600 people. The United States has criticized the move that, according to the Trump Administration, would threaten the city's autonomy and protection of freedoms agreements based on the agreements that led to the transition from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, laying the foundations for the removal of the special status of the city in its relations with the United States.

The text developed is little known: the Congress Standing Committee will work on the specific modalities of the law and its application, possible by circumventing the vote of the local parliamentarian.  

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said at the press conference that the approved law will ensure the "long-term stability and prosperity" of the former British colony and has been designed for the "stable implementation" of the 'one country, two systems' model. ', which regulates relations between China and Hong Kong, on which Beijing has "always worked for full implementation".