Hong Kong: Security Bans "Ringing for Autonomy"

Critics fear that freedoms in Hong Kong will end. Massive resistance is building up against China's security law plans. But what protest actions are possible in the corona pandemic?

Hong Kong (AP) - The Chinese plan to enact its own security laws for Hong Kong has met with harsh criticism in China's special administrative region and worldwide.

The pro-democratic forces in the Asian economic metropolis called on Saturday the seven million inhabitants to oppose the plans.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke in Washington of a "ringing for autonomy" by Beijing "unilaterally and arbitrarily imposing Hong Kong's national security legislation".

International human rights groups believed that legislation would be "the end of the one-country-two-system agreement" that has governed the former British crown colony since its return to China in 1997. The U.S. organization Freedom House, which campaigns for human rights and democracy worldwide, warned that such security laws would be a threat to those who advocate democracy, activists, journalists and members of religious groups and minorities who are being persecuted in the People's Republic.

At the Beijing People's Congress annual meeting that started on Friday, the Chinese government announced a decision to mandate its Standing Committee to enact a law to protect national security in Hong Kong. It aims at activities that are classified as subversive or that could aim for independence. The proposed law is also directed against foreign interference. It even provides that Chinese security organs can also set up branch offices in Hong Kong "if necessary".

The use of Chinese security agencies in Hong Kong would be a breach of the autonomy practice according to which Chinese government agencies have so far stayed out of Hong Kong. The bill would also bypass Hong Kong's parliament. Beijing argues that the Legislative Council itself should actually pass such security laws in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has been in force since 1997. The project was put on hold in 2003 due to mass protests.

Since last summer, Hong Kong has seen protests every week against its own government, police brutality and Beijing's growing influence. Some demonstrations escalated into violent clashes between radical activists and the police. Only when the new corona virus broke out did the protests come to a standstill since the beginning of the year. Distance rules also apply today, which the police also use from the opposition's perspective to resolve smaller protests.

The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which has repeatedly organized demonstrations with millions of participants, said: "It is extremely difficult to take action at this time." At the moment, nothing can be said about how to proceed. "But we want to let the Hong Kong people know that they should not only stand up for their jobs, but also for human rights, democracy and the freedom from the rule of law, regardless of political beliefs."

Former Hong Kong MP Lee Cheuk-yan said Beijing is "taking direct control" in Hong Kong while testing the international community: "Are you going to do something for Hong Kong?" The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was concerned about the impact of security laws on the business climate and a further escalation between the U.S. and China via Hong Kong.

The freedoms that distinguished Hong Kong from China "have long helped the city thrive as one of the world's leading economic centers," said one statement. The Chamber of Commerce is seeking clarification from Beijing on how security laws will affect personal freedoms or the rule of law. "Nobody wins if the foundation for Hong Kong's role as a leading business and financial center is undermined."

Renowned American legal expert and China expert Jerome Cohen said that the People's Congress Standing Committee may be able to prevail with its purely technical legal interpretation, "but the political costs for the central government and the people of Hong Kong will be very high".

Jerome Cohen

Freedom House

AmCham

CHRF