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Hong Kong security law: What is it and is it worrying? Hong Kong security law: What is it and is it worrying?
(3 days later)
China dropped a political bombshell on Hong Kong when it declared it would impose a national security law on the city. Now many fear this could spell the end of Hong Kong's unique freedoms. So what do we know, and what do people fear the most? China stunned Hong Kong when it announced it would impose a national security law on the city. Many worry this could spell the end of Hong Kong's unique freedoms. So what do we know, and what do people fear the most?
What is this law all about?What is this law all about?
Firstly, what China has submitted is a draft resolution to its rubber stamp parliament. That resolution will be voted (and probably passed) next week. Only after that, will it be fleshed out into an actual draft law. First of all, nothing is set in stone... yet.
So the details are thin - but the concerns are many. We know this much. Any law would make criminal any act of: What China has submitted is a draft resolution to its rubber stamp parliament. That will be voted on (and almost certainly passed) this week. Only after that, will it be fleshed out into an actual draft law.
One part that's caused particular concern is a suggestion that China could set up institutions in Hong Kong that are responsible for defending national security. So the details are thin but we know this much. A law would make criminal any act of:
That means China could potentially have its own law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong, alongside the city's own. One part that has got people worried is the suggestion that China could set up its own institutions in Hong Kong responsible for security.
So it could introduce its own law enforcement agencies, alongside the city's own.
Why did China do this?Why did China do this?
Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a unique agreement - a mini-constitution called the Basic Law and a so-called "one country, two systems" principle.Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a unique agreement - a mini-constitution called the Basic Law and a so-called "one country, two systems" principle.
They are supposed to protect certain freedoms for Hong Kong: freedom of assembly and speech. an independent judiciary and some democratic rights - freedoms that no other part of mainland China has. They are supposed to protect certain freedoms for Hong Kong: freedom of assembly and speech, an independent judiciary and some democratic rights - freedoms that no other part of mainland China has.
Under the same agreement, Hong Kong had to enact is own national security laws - this was set out in Article 23 of the Basic Law. Under the same agreement, Hong Kong had to enact is own national security law - this was set out in Article 23 of the Basic Law.
But its unpopularity means it has never been done - the government tried in 2003 but had to back down after 500,000 people took to the streets. But its unpopularity means it has never been done - the government tried in 2003 but had to back down after protests.
Then, last year, months-long protests over an extradition law turned violent and evolved into a broader anti-China and pro-democracy movement. Then, last year, protests over an extradition law turned violent and evolved into a broader anti-China and pro-democracy movement.
China doesn't want to see that happen again.China doesn't want to see that happen again.
Why are people in Hong Kong afraid?Why are people in Hong Kong afraid?
As the law has not even been drafted yet, it is hard to be concrete, but essentially people in Hong Kong fear the loss of their civil liberties. As the law has not even been drafted yet, it is hard to be concrete, but essentially people in Hong Kong fear the loss of these freedoms.
China expert Willy Lam is concerned the law could see people punished for criticising Beijing - as happens in mainland China.China expert Willy Lam is concerned the law could see people punished for criticising Beijing - as happens in mainland China.
People are concerned this affect free speech their right to protest - which is currently legal in Hong Kong. In China, activities like this have been known to be classified as subversion. People believe this will affect free speech and their right to protest. In China, this would be seen as subversion.
Prominent activists such as Joshua Wong have been petitioning foreign governments to help their pro-democracy cause in the city. After years of lobbying, the US passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Some are worried that such campaign would constitute a crime in the future. Some pro-democracy activists - such as Joshua Wong - have been lobbying foreign governments to help their cause. Such campaigning could be a crime in the future.
Many are also afraid Hong Kong's judicial system will become like China's.Many are also afraid Hong Kong's judicial system will become like China's.
"Almost all trials involving national security are conducted behind closed door. It was never clear what exactly the allegations and the evidence are, and the term national security is so vague that it could cover almost anything," Professor Johannes Chan, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong, says. "Almost all trials involving national security are conducted behind closed doors. It [is] never clear what exactly the allegations and the evidence are, and the term national security is so vague that it could cover almost anything," Professor Johannes Chan, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong, says.
Finally, people realise that an erosion of Hong Kong's liberties will affects its attractiveness as a business and economic powerhouse. Finally, people worry that a threat to Hong Kong's liberties could affect its attractiveness as a business and economic powerhouse.
It is not just its political but also its economic future at stake, observers say.
So can China just push this through?So can China just push this through?
The Basic Law says Chinese laws can't be applied in Hong Kong unless they are listed in a section called Annex III - there are already a few listed there, mostly uncontroversial and around foreign policy.The Basic Law says Chinese laws can't be applied in Hong Kong unless they are listed in a section called Annex III - there are already a few listed there, mostly uncontroversial and around foreign policy.
These laws could be introduced by decree - which means they bypass the city's parliament. These laws can be introduced by decree - which means they bypass the city's parliament and Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam has already said she will co-operate.
Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam has already said she will co-operate with China to "complete the legislation as soon as possible". If you want a deep dive into the tensions between China and Hong Kong read more here:
If you want a deep dive into why there are tensions between China and Hong Kong have been ratcheted up read more here:
Critics say this amounts to a breach of that "one country, two systems" principle, which is so important to Hong Kong.Critics say this amounts to a breach of that "one country, two systems" principle, which is so important to Hong Kong.
What's more, Professor Chan says the proposed law will contravene Article 23. If there were sanctions associated with any national laws to be included in the annex, Professor Chan also says it should go through Hong Kong's parliament because the judicial systems are so different.
It "seems to be increasingly the case that Beijing can treat and interpret the Basic Law in whatever way it likes," he continues. "The values underlying the criminal justice system in two jurisdictions are so different that any criminal law should only be enacted by HK and not by the mainland," he says.
The draft resolution also suggests that the Hong Kong government still needs to enact its own national security law under Article 23 in a separate piece of law. What's more, the draft resolution in itself goes against Article 23, says Professor Chan - because that says Hong Kong must draft its own security law.
If there were sanctions associated with any national laws to be included in the annex, Professor Chan says it should go through Hong Kong's parliament because the judicial systems are so different. So that suggests the Hong Kong government still needs to do that - which could make things complicated.
"The values underlying the criminal justice system in two jurisdictions are so different that any criminal law should only be enacted by HK and not by the Mainland," he says.
Reporting by the BBC's Grace TsoiReporting by the BBC's Grace Tsoi