Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, at the center, greets delegates following the commencement of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
By Kanis Leung and Zen Soo | Associated Press
HONG KONG — On Friday, Hong Kong introduced a new national security bill that suggests severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for offenses such as treason and insurrection. This development has heightened concerns about the continued erosion of the city’s freedoms, particularly after Beijing imposed a similar law four years ago, effectively quelling dissent.
The proposed legislation aims to enhance the government’s authority in suppressing potential challenges to its governance, focusing on issues like insurrection, external interference, and safeguarding state secrets. Hong Kong leader John Lee is pushing for swift approval of the bill, with lawmakers scheduled to commence discussions on Friday in an expedited session. Given the composition of the legislature, dominated by Beijing supporters following electoral reforms, the bill is anticipated to pass smoothly, potentially within weeks.
Critics caution that the new law could align Hong Kong’s legal framework more closely with that of mainland China, leading to further curtailment of civil liberties that were guaranteed to remain unchanged for 50 years after the city’s handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
The government, however, cites the massive anti-government protests in 2019 as justification for the bill, asserting that it will primarily impact “an extremely small minority” of disloyal residents.
According to Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the city is mandated to enact its own national security legislation. A previous attempt to pass such a law triggered widespread protests, prompting the shelving of the legislation.
Given the chilling effect of the 2020 security law, a repeat of significant protests against the new bill is improbable. The aftermath of the 2019 protests saw the arrest of numerous pro-democracy activists, prompting others to flee the city. Additionally, many civil society organizations have been disbanded, and vocal media platforms like Apple Daily and Stand News have been forced to cease operations.
During a recent one-month public consultation period, the government reported overwhelming support for the proposed bill, with 98.6% of received opinions in favor, while only 0.72% opposed the measures. The remaining feedback consisted of queries or comments that did not indicate a clear stance.
Despite this apparent support, concerns have been raised by business figures and journalists who fear that the broad scope of the law could criminalize routine professional activities.