Hong Kong passes national security law giving govt more power to curb dissent

Hong Kong on Tuesday passed a new national security law that expands the government’s power to crush dissent, news agency AP reported. It will come into effect from on March 23.

The legislature president said that the passage of the law is a “historic moment”.

The proposed law threatens stringent penalties for a wide range of actions authorities call threats to national security, with the most severe — including treason and insurrection — punishable by life imprisonment. Lesser offenses, including the possession of seditious publications, could also lead to several years in jail. Some provisions allow criminal prosecutions for acts committed anywhere in the world.

The lawmakers had met in a special session to resume debate on the proposed national security law Tuesday, a day before the Legislative Council’s regular Wednesday sessions.

The legislation is widely seen as the latest step in a sweeping political crackdown that followed pro-democracy protests in 2019. It would come on top of a similar law imposed by Beijing four years ago that has already largely silenced opposition voices in the financial hub.

The bill was first tabled on March 8, following an appeal by Hong Kong leader John Lee to push the law through “at full speed.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, legislators expressed staunch support for the law. Legislative Council President Andrew Leung said he believed all lawmakers were honored to have taken part in this “historic mission,” AP reported. “I fully agree with what the Chief Executive said: the sooner the legislation is completed, the sooner national security will be safeguarded,” he said.

Officials insist the new security law balances security with safeguarding rights and freedoms. The city government said it’s necessary to prevent a recurrence of the protests, and that it would only affect “an extremely small minority” of disloyal residents.

The measure targets espionage, disclosing state secrets, and “colluding with external forces” to commit illegal acts, among others. Its provisions include tougher penalties for people convicted of endangering national security by certain acts if they’re also found to be working with foreign governments or organizations to do so. Those who damage public infrastructure with the intent to endanger national security could be jailed for 20 years, or, if they colluded with external forces, for life.

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