Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Hong Kong Reels After One Year of National Security Law Imposed by China Tommy Walker BANGKOK - As China exuberantly celebrated the 100-year anniversaryof the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, the mood and atmosphere for many in Hong Kong was different,as the territorymarked the one-yearanniversary ofa controversial national security lawcritics say has significantly curtailed democratic freedoms. Ted Hui,aformer pro-democracy lawmaker who fled to Australia after facing nine charges in Hong Kong, told VOA the city is "unrecognizable." "In the past yearI think the intensityis getting stronger and stronger and level of enforcement. It's no doubt to me now, a year after the introduction of the NSL, 100%it is the death of'one country,two systems,'a total collapse of Hong Kong's freedoms. Not any autonomy at all," he said. Hui,was one of the 19 lawmakers who resigned from Hong Kong's Legislative Council in November inprotestofthe government's decision to disqualify members of his party. China enacted the security law in response to widespread protests in 2019 over the enactment of a controversial extradition bill.Major protests ensuedfor six months, often turning violent. Among other things, the security legislationprohibitssecession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.At least 117 people have been arrested and 64 have been chargedunder the law, according to a [1]Reuters report. Eunice Yung, a pro-Beijing lawmaker,said shebelieves the law has "delivered immediateresults" andwas"very effective" in restoring stability. "Hong Kong has emerged from chaos into stability,so thereisno more violent acts now. Those activists endangering national security have either fled or they are being charged or have announced they are withdrawing from associations or groups, those who advocate for Hong Kong independence have subsided substantially," Yung told VOA. A protester holding a U.K. flag is arrested by police officers during the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong handover to China at a street in Hong Kong, July 1, 2021. However,Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairof thenonprofitHong Kong Alliance, said the security law means Hong Kong is now governed under a "dictatorship," making it a city "under fear." "Before,we feel we have freedom of expression, we still have our opposition, we still have people running for primaries, and planning on taking theLegislativeCouncil," she told VOA. "I think they [now] want to target civil society organizations, NGO's and all these political parties and groups. And it looks like ours," she added. Chow, who is also a lawyer, [2]was arrested June 30, hours after speaking with VOA for allegedly inciting illegalassembly. Holden Chow, a pro-Beijing lawmaker,insists the security law was vital to curtailing fear from the protests in 2019. "People didn't have freedom to go out safely or point out the ugly truth and chaos done by protestors. People were beaten and even burnt only because they expressed views against the protestors," Chow told VOA. Jailed activists, press freedom Following their involvement in the protests two years ago, several prominent activists have been jailed,including Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Lee Cheuk Yan. Thehighest profileamong themis media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 73, who has been an open critic of Beijing for years. Lai is currently serving jail time but is still facing life imprisonment for alleged foreign collusion under the security law. Fung Wai-kong, managing editor and chief opinion writer for shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily's English website, who wrote under the pen-name Lo Fung, enters a waiting vehicle after leaving the police headquarters in Hong Kong on June 29. Apple Daily, the pro-democracy newspaper Lai founded, was forced to closelast monthafter authorities arrested five executives,also for alleged foreign collusion. Hong Kong's Security Bureau [3]froze the company's financial access,leaving the paper unable to publish. The newspaper's closure has brought new waves of concern to Hong Kong's media industry. Stand News, a popular pro-democracy news website, has since decided to remove opinion reports and commentaries from its websiteout of concernaboutbeing targeted. Andrew Powner managing partner atHaldanes, a Hong Kong law firm, told VOA that Article 4 of the security law guarantees press freedom, adding that theApple Dailyexecutive arrests have beendeemed"exceptional cases" by government spokespersons. Thelawyersaid, though,that untilawritten judgment from the Hong Kong courts [4]explainsitsscope in relation to theoffenses, the "red lines" are still unclear. For the second time in two years, authorities denied pro-democracy groups permission to hold a rally to marktheanniversary of Hong Kong'shandover, citing gathering restrictions due totheCOVID-19 pandemic. Four protesters carry a banner marching to the flag raising handover ceremony area in Hong Kong, July 1, 2021. However,just in case, a large police presence occupied the district Causeway Bay. Policestated19peoplewere arrested during the day, including youth activist Wong Yat Chin, the convener of the pro-democracy political group[5]StudentPoliticism. Jonathan Fritz, U.S.Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, East Asian Pacific Affairs told reporters Thursday, "In spite of the ongoing, systematic crackdown, we are inspired to see the resilience of Hong Kongers in their pursuit of what the PRC promised them: a Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy, universal suffrage and genuine protection of fundamental freedoms. We hope Beijing will realize the truth: Hong Kongers aren't the problem; they are its greatest strength. To dissent is to show your patriotism, and Hong Kongers are showing that they want their government to be better. If the PRC can have the confidence to tolerate dissent and welcome diverse points of view, Hong Kong will flourish." References 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/one-year-hong-kong-arrests-117-people-under-new-security-law-2021-06-30/ 2. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/hong-kong-pro-democracy-activist-arrested-again 3. https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/last-edition-hong-kongs-apple-daily-signs-million-copy-run 4. https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/hong-kongs-apple-daily-closed-media-question-security-laws-reach 5. https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1598679-20210701.htm .