{"id":697002,"date":"2024-01-30T12:50:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=697002"},"modified":"2024-02-02T18:29:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T02:29:45","slug":"hong-kong-government-pushes-new-homegrown-national-security-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2024\/01\/hong-kong-government-pushes-new-homegrown-national-security-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong Government Pushes New Homegrown National Security Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, the Hong Kong government released a <\/span>110-page consultation document<\/span><\/a> that outlined plans for yet another national security law. This homegrown law joins a long list of recent initiatives by the government to increase its political control in the city, from <\/span>youth \u201cderadicalization\u201d programs<\/span><\/a> for political protesters to <\/span>imitating<\/span><\/a> Beijing\u2019s<\/span> \u201cpatriotic education\u201d<\/span><\/a> laws. Nectar Gan from CNN summarized <\/span>the new legislation<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

The proposed legislation will cover offenses including treason, theft of state secrets, espionage and external interference, in what Hong Kong officials say will \u201cfill loopholes\u201d in a sweeping national security law imposed on the city by China\u2019s central government in 2020 following mass pro-democracy protests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Known as Article 23, Hong Kong\u2019s own security legislation was shelved in 2003 after a previous attempt to enact it drew half a million residents onto the streets in protest over fears it would erode civil liberties.<\/span><\/p>\n

But no such public opposition is expected this time around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beijing\u2019s national security crackdown of recent years has transformed once-freewheeling Hong Kong, silencing almost all dissent and jailing dozens of political opponents. Many civil society groups have disbanded, and outspoken media outlets have shut down. [<\/span>Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Under Article 23 of Hong Kong\u2019s mini-constitution, the city is required to <\/span>pass laws that prohibit seven specific offenses<\/span><\/a> relating to national security. Some of these, such as secession and subversion, were criminalized under the 2020 National Security Law, and others, such as sedition and treason, are covered by colonial-era legislation. Chief Executive John Lee shared his determination to pass the proposed law \u201cas soon as possible,\u201d stating, \u201c<\/span>We can’t afford to wait<\/span><\/a>.\u201d He was \u201cconfident\u201d that \u201c[w]hen people see that this law will bring security and stability, <\/span>they will love it<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Moreover, Lee reiterated his comment from last week that the government will <\/span>establish special \u201cresponse and refute teams\u201d<\/span><\/a> to promote Article 23 and counter \u201cpropaganda\u201d from \u201chostile forces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At Hong Kong Free Press, Irene Chan noted that <\/span>the document contains vague language that could allow for broad application of the proposed law<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the consultation paper, the crime of \u201cexternal interference\u201d targets acts \u201cwith intent to bring about an interference effect, collaborating with an external force\u201d to interfere in elections, forming or executing government policies, or any conduct \u201cprejudicing the relationship\u201d between Hong Kong and Beijing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The document lists examples of external interference as that which has \u201cexceeded the acceptable limit\u201d of \u201cgenuine criticisms against government policies, legitimate lobbying work, general policy research, normal exchanges with overseas organisations or day-to-day commercial activities\u201d as \u201cnormal international practice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It does not elaborate on how \u201cgenuine\u201d and \u201clegitimate\u201d may be defined.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked by a reporter on Tuesday morning if foreign governments, foreign groups or politicians were to release statements on laws or rulings in Hong Kong they would be in breach of \u201cexternal interference,\u201d Lee said the government welcomed criticism from anyone as long as they did not intend to harm national security. [<\/span>Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Photojournalist Galileo Cheng wrote a thread on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting important parts of the document, notably new and vaguely worded offenses:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Espionage: Who are the enemies? Now govt suggesting even \u201cassociated entity\u201d or \u201cassociated individual\u201d would count pic.twitter.com\/e8bBpgegRA<\/a><\/p>\n

— Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n