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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong security law: Life sentences for breaking law | Hong Kong security law: Life sentences for breaking law |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| People in Hong Kong face the possibility of life behind bars for breaking a controversial new security law imposed by China. | People in Hong Kong face the possibility of life behind bars for breaking a controversial new security law imposed by China. |
| The details of the law, which criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, were published after it had come into force. | The details of the law, which criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, were published after it had come into force. |
| Critics say the new law effectively curtails protest and freedom of speech. | Critics say the new law effectively curtails protest and freedom of speech. |
| It was brought in by Beijing following increasing unrest and a widening pro-democracy movement. | It was brought in by Beijing following increasing unrest and a widening pro-democracy movement. |
| Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, defended the law, saying it filled a "gaping hole" in national security. Earlier, the Beijing-backed politician admitted she had not seen the draft. | Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, defended the law, saying it filled a "gaping hole" in national security. Earlier, the Beijing-backed politician admitted she had not seen the draft. |
| The UK, EU and Nato have all expressed concern and anger, while pro-democracy groups have started to disband. | The UK, EU and Nato have all expressed concern and anger, while pro-democracy groups have started to disband. |
| What do we know about the law? | What do we know about the law? |
| Full details of the new law only emerged after it had come into effect at about 23:00 local time on Tuesday (16:00 BST). They include that: | Full details of the new law only emerged after it had come into effect at about 23:00 local time on Tuesday (16:00 BST). They include that: |
| The law will not apply to acts which happened before it came into force. | |
| Under the national security law, many of the acts of protest that have rocked Hong Kong over the past year could now be classed as subversion or secession… and punished with up to life in prison. | |
| The city's pro-Beijing leader, Carrie Lam, said the law was long overdue. | |
| Fearing repercussions, political activists are resigning their posts and one pro-democracy protester, who asked to remain anonymous, told me that ordinary people are now deleting posts on social media. | |
| Many people are just stopping talking about politics, and stopping talking about freedom and democracy because they want to save their own lives. They want to save their freedom and avoid being arrested. | |
| One contact of mine, a lawyer and human rights activist, sent me a message shortly after the law was passed. Please delete everything on this chat, he wrote. | |
| What has the reaction been? | |
| The reaction began the moment the law - which was first announced six weeks ago - was signed by China's President Xi Jingping. | |
| Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong began to quit immediately, fearful of the new law, and the punishment it allows. | |
| Joshua Wong, secretary-general and founding member of pro-democracy group Demosisto, warned the city would "turn into a secret police state". | |
| The head of human rights group Amnesty International's China team, Joshua Rosenzweig, accused Beijing of aiming to "govern Hong Kong through fear from this point forward". | |
| The move also provoked international reaction, with the UK's Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, saying China had broken the promises it had made to the people of Hong Kong under the terms of the 1997 handover. | |
| That agreement enshrined the "one country, two systems" principle in a document called the Basic Law - Hong Kong's mini constitution - for 50 years. | |
| Basic Law protects rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech - neither of which exist in mainland China - and also sets out the structure of governance for the territory. | |
| Julian Braithwaite, Britain's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, told the UN Human Rights Council that the law "has clear implications for human rights". | |
| Mr Braithwaite, speaking on behalf of 27 nations, urged China to reconsider. |