Hong Kong Fast-Tracks Tough New National Security Law

Facts

• A bills committee in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) began to assess Friday the full draft of new national security legislation that threatens stiffer penalties for newly listed crimes, with extra-full day sessions scheduled for the weekend to expedite the process.¹
• Provisions include life in prison for treason and increased punishments for collusion with espionage, external forces, sedition, and state secrets. It also allows police to detain suspects for two weeks before charging them.²
• This comes as the LegCo completed the first and second readings of the Article 23 draft bill earlier that day, just hours after the 212-page extension to the National Security Law was gazetted.³
• Chief Executive John Lee revealed on Thursday that he had told LegCo President Andrew Leung that both the government and the legislature must spare no effort to enact the bill as soon as possible. Last week, the public consultation process on the legislation came to an end.⁴
• Given that the pro-Beijing camp dominates the legislative branch, the bill is largely expected to be passed and enshrined in Hong Kong's Basic Law with minimal opposition — reportedly by April.⁵
• Authorities claim that the legislation is needed to close gaps in the 2020 national security law. Two decades ago, an attempt to pass Article 23 laws prompted large protests in Hong Kong that forced the government to retreat.⁶

Sources: ¹South China Morning Post, ²Al Jazeera, ³Global Times, ⁴Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, ⁵BBC News and ⁶CNN.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by New York Times. Hong Kong authorities, under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, have pushed this new security law at an unprecedented pace — and with little regard to public submissions — to further crack down on dissent in the once autonomous and democratic financial center. Yet again, Beijing's puppet regime is threatening freedoms and rights in Hong Kong.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Chinadailyhk. After a long wait that included taking into consideration public submissions to the bill, Hong Kong authorities have finally tabled this much-needed legislation. Despite Western sources claiming the opposite, the fact is that these Article 23 laws meet all applicable international conventions and standards as well as human rights protections and procedural safeguards.