Tuesday, 30 June _The Chinese parliament’s top decision-making body has approved a new national security law for Hong Kong, nearly 40 days after the semi-autonomous city’s legislature passed the Beijing-proposed bill.
The standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress approved the bill on Tuesday, the last day of a special session to fast-track the legislation.
The full text of the bill has not been released yet, but according to previous reporting, the law criminalizes sedition, secession, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces against the mainland.
Beijing was also expected to set up a national security office in Hong Kong to “supervise, guide and support” the city government.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted unidentified sources as saying that the official Xinhua news agency would publish the details of the law on Tuesday afternoon and Hong Kong officials would gather at Beijing’s top representative office in the city later in the day for a meeting on the legislation.
Protests erupted in Hong Kong after the law was proposed on May 22. Critics view it as a blow to the region’s autonomy and civil liberties.
China says the legislation will leave political freedoms intact and return stability.
Hong Kong was rocked by violent protests over another bill that would have reformed its extradition law last year. Rioters vandalized the city, destroying public and private property and attacking individuals deemed to be pro-government. Hong Kong dropped that bill, but the acts of violence continued.
Western governments, meanwhile, have jumped at the opportunity to attack China. Beijing has repeatedly warned against foreign meddling in its internal affairs.
Your Comment