2023-10-25 09:06:39
Hong Kong announced this Wednesday the development of its own national security law in 2024, four years following Beijing imposed a text there to repress the opposition.
Hong Kong’s leader said Wednesday that the territory, located in southern China, will draft its own national security law in 2024, four years following Beijing imposed sweeping legislation there to suppress dissent.
The government “will continue to preserve national security andimprove its legal system and its control mechanisms, declared Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee during his annual general policy speech. “The government continues to develop effective legislative options and will complete the legislative work in 2024 to fulfill our constitutional duty,” added Mr. Lee.
Repression of the pro-democracy movement
Major pro-democracy protests erupted in 2019 in the Asian financial center, during which hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to demand more freedoms and autonomy from mainland China.
In response, Beijing imposed a national security law cracking down on secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces by convictions which might reach life imprisonment.
According to the Basic Law, which serves as the constitution of the Chinese Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong required to develop own legislation on seven security offenses, including treason and espionage. This task, also called “constitutional responsibility” by the territorial government, has not yet been accomplished. In 2003, the last initiative was abandoned following half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest.
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