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Hong Kong Passes Own National Security Law, Sparking International Backlash

by VOA News

   Hong Kong's legislature unanimously -- and with surprising speed
   approved its own sweeping national security law Tuesday, strengthening
   the government's ability to silence dissent. Critics say that its
   restrictions and vague language could hinder the work of journalists,
   business people and clergy members.

   The sanctions, approved Tuesday on a vote of 90-0 by the pro-Beijing
   chamber, goes further than a similar bill imposed by China in 2020 in
   the wake of 2019 pro-democracy protests.

   The passage comes just a few weeks after Chief Executive John Lee
   announced the legislature would create the law as required by Article
   23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, the mini-constitution that took effect
   when Britain handed the city back to China in 1997.

   Lee announced the new law will take effect on March 23, calling its
   passage "a historic moment for Hong Kong."

   The new law will cover treason, insurrection, espionage, theft of state
   secrets, foreign influence and interference and sabotage, including the
   use of computers and electronic systems to conduct acts that endanger
   national security. Anyone convicted under the new law could face prison
   terms ranging from several years to life.

   The language outlining crimes like espionage or theft of state secrets
   is vague, leaving open the possibility that individuals could
   inadvertently break the law. Critics say the law could make it more
   difficult for companies to operate in the city because businesses would
   have to make sure that all documents and information shared by
   employees do not break the new law.

   Journalists, business people and other stakeholders could be held
   accountable for handling documents or other confidential information.

   Additionally, those who witness others breaking the new law are
   required to report them to authorities. The law could punish priests
   who hear confessions about national security offenses and don't report
   them, according to a government adviser.

   An amendment to the law last week allows for new offenses to be created
   by Lee and his cabinet, to account for "unforeseen circumstances." The
   new offenses would be punishable by up to seven years in prison.

   Reaction to passage of the law was quick, with the United States,
   Britain and the U.N.'s top rights official all voicing concerns.

   U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned both the
   swiftness with which the law was passed and the ambiguity of its
   language. He said, "This ambiguity is deeply troubling, given its
   potential misuse and arbitrary application, including to target
   dissenting voices, journalists, researchers, civil society actors and
   human rights defenders."

   At a regular briefing on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said
   passage of the law could accelerate the closing of a once open society.
   Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel added that Washington is analyzing the
   potential impact of the law on U.S. citizens and American interests.

   British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the law would have
   "far-reaching implications" for Hong Kong's reputation as an
   international city that respects the rule of law, the independence of
   its institutions and citizens' freedoms.

   The law, passed by a stacked pro-Beijing legislature facilitated by
   China, has been condemned by human rights advocates and international
   stakeholders as well.

   Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch, said it will
   "usher Hong Kong into a new era of authoritarianism," and that "even
   possessing a book critical of the Chinese government can violate
   national security and mean years in prison in Hong Kong."

   A letter written by U.S. lawmakers to Secretary of State Antony Blinken
   on Tuesday said the law "will only make Hong Kong less safe for U.S.
   businesses and citizens living in Hong Kong as well as Hong Kongers
   seeking to exercise their fundamental freedoms."

   The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, made up of global
   legislators, has called the law the "most repressive national security
   legislation" in Hong Kong's history.

   Almost four years ago, Beijing enacted similarly stringent national
   security legislation in response to the pro-democracy protests of 2019.
   The bill punished anyone in Hong Kong believed to be carrying out
   terrorism, separatism, subversion of state power or collusion with
   foreign forces.

   Since the law took effect, hundreds of pro-democracy advocates have
   been arrested, tried and jailed, and the city's once-vibrant civil
   society has been stifled.

   Some information for this report came from The Associated Press,
   Reuters, Agence France-Presse.

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