“Sad Day for Hong Kong”: SCMP

Massive protests began in June 2019 over China’s increasing influence and proposed legislation allowing extradition to China. China released details of a new national security law for Hong Kong only after final approval. “Under the law, Beijing will exercise jurisdiction over ‘complicated’ cases such as those relating to foreign interference, or when local authorities cannot enforce the law effectively, or when the nation’s security is under major threat,” reports the South China Morning Post. “Laid out in six chapters with 66 articles, it lists four categories of offences – secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security.” Penalties range from 3 years for minor offenses to life in prison. The law allows extradition to China. After the US secretary of state imposed limits on high-techn and defenses exports to Hong Kong, Chinese officials insist no foreign government should intervene on such domestic matters, suggesting that US hands “stretch” too far and insisting that one nation cannot disrupt Hong Kong’s international status. The new law may conflict with two human rights treaties protecting free speech and freedom of assembly, incorporated in Hong Kong’s Basic Law. China’s focus is on opposition to communist rule and the centralized state’s interests. Since the law's passage, authorities have arrested more than 370 people. – YaleGlobal

“Sad Day for Hong Kong”: SCMP

China imposes new national security law for Hong Kong, arresting more than 350 protesters – and may give broad definition to collusion with a foreign country
Teddy Ng, Joyce Ng, Jun Mai and Tony Cheung
Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Read the article from the South China Morning Post about the new national security law for Hong Kong from China.

Teddy Ng joined the Post’s China desk in 2011, focusing on foreign affairs. He is now a news editor of the section.

Joyce Ng covers Hong Kong’s politics and housing issues. She joined the Post in 2008 to focus on urban planning, housing and heritage news, and has won awards for reporting on developers’ tricks in flat sales.

Jun Mai is an award-winning journalist and has covered Chinese politics, diplomacy, legal affairs, social activism and general breaking news for a decade. Before his current posting in Beijing, he was based in Hong Kong and has also completed a stint in Washington DC.

Tony Cheung became a political journalist in 2007. He joined the Post in 2012 and now leads the Hong Kong-mainland relations team on the Hong Kong desk. Tony also writes about the economy, and reports from mainland China, the United States, Germany and Britain.

Read the full text of the national security law:

“A person who organises, plans, commits or participates in any of the following acts, whether or not by force or threat of force, with a view to committing secession or undermining national unification shall be guilty of an offence: (1) separating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or anyother part of the People’s Republic of China from the People’s Republic of China; (2) altering by unlawful means the legal status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or of any other part of the People’s Republic of China; or (3) surrendering the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or any other part of the People’s Republic of China to a foreign country.”

Also read “Britain to give millions of Hongkongers path to citizenship” from the South China Morning Post:  About 3 million holders of British National (Overseas) passports and dependents will be allowed to move to the United Kingdom for five years and then apply for permanent residency. 

Also read “US suspends Hong Kong import rights over autonomy fears.”

It is the common responsibility of all the people of China, including the people of Hong Kong, to safeguard the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China… - China’s Law on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong
(Source:  Sam Tsang, South China Morning Post)

South China Morning Post
Related Links: 

National Security Legislation for Hong Kong: SCMP

Moment of Truth for Hong Kong and China: The Hill

The US and China Tussle Over Hong Kong

Free Press Essential for Hong Kong's Success

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