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| China pushes highly controversial security law for Hong Kong | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Proposed legislation follows turmoil on territory, which was convulsed by pro-democracy protests last year | |
| Beijing’s parliament has said it will discuss legislation to enforce national security measures in Hong Kong, in a highly controversial move that will escalate tensions in the territory. | |
| Pro-democracy protests last year plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, and Beijing has since made it clear it wants new security legislation passed. | |
| Article 23 of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, says the city must enact national security laws to prohibit “treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion” against the Chinese government. | |
| But the clause has never been implemented due to deeply held public fears it would curtail Hong Kong’s cherished rights, such as freedom of expression. An attempt to enact Article 23 in 2003 was shelved after half a million people took to the streets in protest. | |
| At a press conference before the opening of China’s annual meeting of parliament on Friday, Zhang Yesui, a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, said: “Because of new circumstances and need, the NPC is exercising the power enshrined in the constitution to establish and improve a legal framework and mechanism for safeguarding national security and upholding the institutional framework for ‘one country, two systems’.” | At a press conference before the opening of China’s annual meeting of parliament on Friday, Zhang Yesui, a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, said: “Because of new circumstances and need, the NPC is exercising the power enshrined in the constitution to establish and improve a legal framework and mechanism for safeguarding national security and upholding the institutional framework for ‘one country, two systems’.” |
| He added: “Hong Kong is an inseparable part of the People’s Republic of China. The National People’s Congress is the country’s highest organ of state power. National security is the bedrock underpinning the stability of the country. Safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interest of all Chinese, and Hong Kong patriots included.” | He added: “Hong Kong is an inseparable part of the People’s Republic of China. The National People’s Congress is the country’s highest organ of state power. National security is the bedrock underpinning the stability of the country. Safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interest of all Chinese, and Hong Kong patriots included.” |
| The announcement confirmed earlier reports that Chinese lawmakers were preparing measures for a sweeping national security law, previously shelved in Hong Kong because of widespread resistance. The law would bar sedition, foreign interference, terrorism and secession. | |
| China’s annual meeting of parliament – a largely rubber-stamp body – kicks off its full session on Friday in Beijing. | China’s annual meeting of parliament – a largely rubber-stamp body – kicks off its full session on Friday in Beijing. |
| The legislation could be a turning point for China’s freest and most international city, potentially triggering a revision of its special status in Washington, and is likely to spark more unrest. | The legislation could be a turning point for China’s freest and most international city, potentially triggering a revision of its special status in Washington, and is likely to spark more unrest. |
| Social media posts urged people to gather to protest in Hong Kong on Thursday night, and dozens of people were seen shouting pro-democracy slogans in a shopping mall as riot police stood nearby. | Social media posts urged people to gather to protest in Hong Kong on Thursday night, and dozens of people were seen shouting pro-democracy slogans in a shopping mall as riot police stood nearby. |
| Hong Kongers took to the streets sometimes in their millions last year to protest against a now withdrawn bill that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. The movement broadened to include demands for greater democracy amid perceptions that Beijing was tightening its grip over the city. | Hong Kongers took to the streets sometimes in their millions last year to protest against a now withdrawn bill that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. The movement broadened to include demands for greater democracy amid perceptions that Beijing was tightening its grip over the city. |
| “If Beijing passes the law … how [far] will civil society resist repressive laws? How much impact will it unleash on to Hong Kong as an international financial centre?” said Ming Sing, a political scientist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. | “If Beijing passes the law … how [far] will civil society resist repressive laws? How much impact will it unleash on to Hong Kong as an international financial centre?” said Ming Sing, a political scientist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. |
| By preparing a law in China’s parliament, authorities could effectively bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and local opposition. | |
| The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said on 6 May he was delaying a report assessing whether Hong Kong was sufficiently autonomous to warrant Washington’s special economic treatment, which has helped it remain a world financial centre. The delay was to account for any actions at the NPC, he said. | The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said on 6 May he was delaying a report assessing whether Hong Kong was sufficiently autonomous to warrant Washington’s special economic treatment, which has helped it remain a world financial centre. The delay was to account for any actions at the NPC, he said. |
| Tension between the two superpowers has heightened in recent weeks as they have exchanged accusations on the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, souring an already worsening relationship over trade. | Tension between the two superpowers has heightened in recent weeks as they have exchanged accusations on the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, souring an already worsening relationship over trade. |
| Reuters contributed to this report | Reuters contributed to this report |