the all-China Assembly of people’s representatives unanimously passed the law on national security of Hong Kong. The document has already been signed and the Chinese President XI Jinping. According to critics of this legislation, it can be used to suppress the existing legal processes, and further eroding civil and political freedoms on the territory of the special Autonomous region.
Although the unanimous vote in the standing Committee of vsekitajsky meeting of national representatives of the Chinese media have reported widely, the full content of the new law were not disclosed.
we Know that the law consists of 6 articles and 66 points, provides criminal penalties for subversive activities against the Central Chinese government, terrorism, separatism and conspiracy with foreign forces to jeopardize national security.
In the comments of deputies of vsekitajsky meeting of national representatives had previously been different versions of what is the penalty for breaking the law. On one of them, we can talk about terms of imprisonment from three to 10 years for other offenders can expect more severe penalties.
indeed, on Tuesday it became known that the maximum penalty prescribed by law for acts of terrorism associated with the crimes of separatism and undermining national security collusion with foreign forces can be a life sentence, reports the Hong Kong edition South China Morning Post.
According to Xinhua, is now in Beijing, will be created the Office of national security in which to exercise control over the local Hong Kong authorities in maintaining law and order will include employees of the security service of mainland China.
in addition, a Commission will be formed for national security, and its leader will be appointed in Beijing. However, the Commission also will act under the “supervision of the Central government.”
In the event of a conflict accepted now the law will take precedence over the local legal regulations of Hong Kong.
the Head of the Hong Kong administration, Carrie Lam, welcomed the adoption of the document and stated that it will take effect after completing the required procedures.
“In light of growing risks to national security faced by Hong Kong, the adoption of the law on national security at the national level, it was urgent and necessary in order to close the gaps in national security in Hong Kong”, – reads the statement of LEM.
the Head of the Hong Kong administration also said that a special unit in the Hong Kong police and the Ministry of justice will be responsible for compliance with laws.
According to policy, after the introduction of the law of excitement, which disturbed the residents of the special administrative region (SAR) for nearly a year, will be weakened, and the stability will be restored, which will allow Hong Kong to start all over again – focus on economic development and improving the living conditions of people.
Earlier in his video message to the UN Council on human rights Lam said that the law “will not have any retroactive effect” that could create serious problems for many democratic activists in Hong Kong, especially for those who have been charged in connection with last year’s protests.
At the same time a new document has been subject to harsh criticism from opposition lawmakers of Hong Kong, human rights groups and politicians around the world, and many stressed that it will strengthen the direct control of Beijing over the semi-Autonomous Chinese territory. Moreover, there are concerns that the law could be used against dissidents, activists, human rights defenders and journalists.
Activists have vowed to hold a demonstration against the law on 1 July, 23-th anniversary of the transfer under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom Hong Kong people’s Republic of China in 1997.
This date has become an annual day of protests in the city, but for the first time since the transfer of power, the police did not give permission to citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations.
opponents of the law argue that it marks the end of the principle of “one country, two systems” under which Hong Kong retains a limited democracy and civil liberties since then, under the control of China. These freedoms include the right to peaceful protest, a free press and an independent judiciary.
However, officials of the Communist party of China and state media has defended the law and has positioned it as the most important guarantor of security after last year’s rallies and 17-year-old the inability of the Hong Kong government to adopt a similar document. The last such attempt was met with mass protests in 2003.
In his statement last week Carrie Lam stressed that the law will provide “long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong”, and that he would “focus only on very small part of the population.” The head of the Hong Kong administration said that the proposed bill “is consistent with the rule of law” and “rights and freedoms”, which are applicable to semi-Autonomous territory of China.
Many activists in the autonomy has condemned the lack of transparency in the legislation. The Chairman of the Hong Kong bar Association, said that the secrecy law is “truly extraordinary” and called on the government to clearly define��to be guaranteed the minimum rights of citizens.
Chinese media reports that the deterrent effect of the Law on national security to Hong Kong began to emerge when the leaders of the separatists of Hong Kong – Joshua Vaughan, Nathan Lowe and Agnes Chow announced its withdrawal from the opposition groups Demosisto a few hours after China’s lawmakers voted for the adoption of the document.
the publication of three key figures of the opposition group considered that the desire to avoid legal risks in light of the adoption of the new law.
Founded in 2016, the organization Demosisto, which in Beijing consider separatist and acting in collusion with external forces, announced the dissolution of its headquarters in Hong Kong. After the statement Demosisto another group advocating for the independence of the region, the Hong Kong national front also announced that it dissolves its branch in Hong Kong. However, we know that opposition groups are preparing to continue their activities abroad.
At the same time opposition activist and leader of the “Revolution of umbrellas” in Hong Kong 2014 Joshua Vaughan wrote in his Twitter that the new law “marks the end of Hong Kong, that the world knew before.”
“Hong Kong will continue to fight for our freedom and democracy for future generations, – the oppositionist added. – When justice fails, our struggle continues.”
human rights group Amnesty International said that the law “poses the biggest threat to human rights in the modern history of autonomy”.
“the Speed and secrecy with which China promotes the law, heighten fear that Beijing has prudently created a weapon of repression to be used against government critics and people who just Express their views or protest peacefully,” – said the head of the team of Amnesty International on China Joshua Rosenzweig.
Hong Kong events caused alarm on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. The President of Taiwan, Cai Iniven stated that the notification about the acceptance of China national security law of Hong Kong prove that the principle of “one country, two systems” is not credible. The politician said that from July 1 on the island will open office which will provide humanitarian assistance to the Hong Kongers.
Monday, June 29, U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo also announced the termination of export to Hong Kong us defense products and sensitive dual-use technologies.
“the United States is forced to take this step to protect the national security of the country, the statement reads. – We can no longer make a distinction between the export of controlled goods to Hong Kong and mainland China. We can’t risk that these goods fell into the hands of the people’s Liberation Army”.
��then the first action carried out by the us government to destroy trade relations with a special status between the US and Hong Kong. The reason for this decision was the same law about national security, which, in Washington’s opinion, violates the rights and freedoms of the area.
Earlier, in November last year, President trump has signed the law on support of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. This act requires the state Department at least once a year to submit to Congress a report on how does Hong Kong a degree of autonomy. The law also provides for sanctions against those who violate human rights.
