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China passes Hong Kong's national security law, according to reports

2020-07-01T16:07:05.892Z


Beijing reportedly passed a far-reaching national security law for Hong Kong, which many fear could be used to nullify existing legal processes and erode freedoms ...


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They fear losing freedoms in Hong Kong over new security law 2:07

(CNN) - Beijing has reportedly passed a far-reaching national security law for Hong Kong, which many fear could be used to nullify existing legal processes and erode the city's civil and political liberties.

Beijing's main legislative body, the National People's Congress (APN), passed the law unanimously on Tuesday morning local time, bypassing the Hong Kong legislature, according to Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK, citing sources. anonymous.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua previously reported that the law would criminalize crimes such as secession, subversion against the Chinese central government, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

A draft was not released before approval, meaning that most people in Hong Kong have not seen details of a law that will now govern their lives.

The approval of the legislation has not been officially confirmed and the details remain unclear. But RTHK reports that the possible maximum sentence for crimes under the law will be "much higher" than 10 years in prison.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam declined to comment on the progress of the bill at her weekly press conference Tuesday morning, saying it would be "inappropriate" to answer questions while the NPC meeting is still in session. session.

The China State Council Information Office said it will hold a press conference on the national security law on Wednesday morning in Beijing.

The legislation was widely criticized by opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong, human rights groups, and politicians around the world, with many saying it will consolidate Beijing's direct control over the semi-autonomous city. Many worry that it can be used to attack political dissidents, activists, human rights lawyers and journalists amid continued central government crackdown on civil society under President Xi Jinping.

The passage of the law comes a day before July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kong's surrender of British colonial rule to China in 1997. This date has become an annual day of protests in the city, but, for First time since the delivery, the police did not give the protesters permission to hold peaceful protests.

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"One country, two systems"

Passing the law is expected to fuel further anger and protests in the city, which was rocked by more than six months of increasingly violent riots against the government last year.

Opponents of the law say it marks the end of "one country, two systems," a principle by which Hong Kong has retained limited democracy and civil liberties since it came under Chinese control.

Fundamentally, those freedoms include the right of assembly, a free press, and an independent judiciary, rights not enjoyed in mainland China.

Chinese Communist Party officials and state media have defended the law as vital to protect national security in the wake of protests last year and the 17-year failure of the Hong Kong government to pass similar legislation as it The latest effort was met with mass protests in 2003.

In one shot of the legislation unveiled by Chinese state media Xinhua on June 22, mainland Chinese officials will be able to operate in Hong Kong for the first time and give Beijing the power to override local laws.

In a statement last week, Lam said the law would guarantee "Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability," and that it "would only target an extremely small minority of people." She said the proposed bill was "in line with the rule of law" and the "rights and freedoms that are applicable in Hong Kong under the Basic Law and relevant international covenants."

Under the plan, Beijing will establish a national security office, with staff from mainland security services to supervise local authorities in monitoring the law. A national security commission will also be established, with an adviser appointed by Beijing and operating under "the supervision of the central government."

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In addition, Hong Kong's top authority, the chief executive, will choose which judges hear national security cases, while mainland Chinese authorities will be able to "exercise jurisdiction" over cases in special circumstances, a controversial clause that increases the possibility of that certain crimes in Hong Kong could lead to hearings on the mainland.

Finally, the plan makes clear that national security law takes precedence over local law. If there is a conflict with applicable Hong Kong law, the national security law will prevail.

Reaction in Hong Kong and the world

Many in the city have denounced the lack of transparency on the legislation. In a letter to the Hong Kong government, Philip Dykes, president of the Hong Kong Bar Association, said the secrecy of the law was "truly extraordinary" and asked the government to clarify how the minimum rights of citizens will be guaranteed.

Joshua Wong, an activist who helped lead massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2014, said on Twitter that "it marks the end of Hong Kong that the world knew before."

He said that Hong Kong “will continue to fight for our freedoms and democracy for the next generations of the city. When justice fails, our fight continues. "

Following the news of the passage of the legislation, the Hong Kong democratic group Demosisto, which Wong formed as a political party in 2016, said it will "dissolve and cease all operations as a group under the circumstances."

This after Wong and other activist leaders, Nathan Law and Agnes Chow, said they would withdraw from Demosisto due to the threat posed by the law.

Wong and other activists have met with foreign diplomats and testified before the United States Congress about Hong Kong's freedoms since large-scale pro-democracy protests erupted last summer.

Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media magnate known for his outspoken support for the city's pro-democracy movement, said the law "means a death sentence for Hong Kong because it replaces our law and our rule of law."

"The democratic movement will have to adjust its strategy because it is a fact that many people in the democratic movement are scared, whether they find ways to leave or emigrate or move away from the movement." Lai, who was arrested in February in connection with a protest march, said he would stay in the city and "continue to fight."

Rights group Amnesty International said the legislation "represents the greatest threat to human rights in the city's recent history."

"The speed and secrecy with which China has pushed this legislation intensifies fear that Beijing has created a calculated weapon of repression to be used against government critics, including people who simply express their views or protest peacefully," said Amnesty International's China team leader Joshua Rosenzweig.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said reports of China's passage of the security law "prove that 'one country, two systems' is not credible." Tsai said Taiwan will open an office starting July 1, which "will provide humanitarian aid to our friends in Hong Kong."

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In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called the passage of the law "regrettable."

On Monday, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced an end to exports of US defense equipment and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong. Pompeo said the move was necessary to protect national security as tensions between the United States and China continue to escalate.

"As Beijing moves forward with the passage of the national security law ... We can no longer distinguish between exporting controlled goods to Hong Kong or mainland China," Pompeo said.

This is the first action that the United States Government has taken to change the special status trade relationship between the United States and Hong Kong, following the determination that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous from China because Beijing imposed the national security in the city.

This comes after Beijing said Monday that it would impose visa restrictions on certain Americans in response to the move announced by Washington last week to set similar limits for Chinese officials on Hong Kong.

CNN's James Griffiths, Steven Jiang, Jadyn Sham, Eric Cheung, Nectar Gan and Jessie Yeung contributed to reporting and writing.

Hong Kong

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-07-01

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