China could impose new security law on Hong Kong this week

The security law could deter speech, protests and media critical of the Chinese government, threatening the territory's independent press and democratic opposition.

Many Hong Kong residents are proudly protective of their rights under the territory's separate legal system and have opposed attempts to pass such legislation. A previous push by Hong Kong's leaders to enact a national security law foundered in 2003 after nearly 500,000 people joined a street protest against it.

China's top leader, Xi Jinping, has been impatient to impose control over Hong Kong. After the territory erupted in monthslong protests last year over a proposed extradition law, a Communist Party meeting in October demanded steps to "safeguard national security" in Hong Kong.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee usually meets every two months or so. This time, the committee is meeting just a little over a week after it first discussed the security legislation at its last session, suggesting that Xi wants the law passed, or it's at least on the cusp of approval, before July 1, the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty.

Beijing imposes security agencies

Legal experts had been uncertain how Xi could introduce a national security law into Hong Kong without going through the city's Legislative Council, a body stacked with pro-Beijing members who have, nonetheless, hesitated to take such a contentious step.

But Xi made a bold move to break the impasse in May, when a full session of the National People's Congress nearly unanimously passed a resolution empowering the Congress' Standing Committee to bring state security legislation into the Basic Law.

The central government's decision to impose a law effectively circumvents the Hong Kong legislature. Even Hong Kong politicians who have endorsed the law, including the territory's top official, Carrie Lam, have said they have not been shown the full text by Beijing, which will bring into Hong Kong new crimes like inciting separatism and "colluding with foreign powers".

The law will also establish a new security agency in the territory to enforce the security restrictions, and Beijing will create its own separate security arm in Hong Kong, empowered to investigate special cases and collect intelligence, according to a summary issued by China's legislature.

The legislation also gives the territory's chief official, who must answer to Beijing, the power to decide which judges are empowered to hear trials for state security charges, limiting the autonomy of the city's judiciary.

Many residents fear the law

Lam, Hong Kong's local leader, has sought to reassure the public that their "legitimate rights and freedoms" will be safeguarded. She and other politicians who support the law have also said that it will target only a tiny minority of lawbreakers.

Pro-democracy activists have denounced the proposed law, and the Hong Kong Bar Association has called it unconstitutional.

The Hong Kong police force has denied applications from three groups — the League of Social Democrats, the Civil Human Rights Front and pro-democracy district officials — to hold marches opposing the law on July 1, the politically sensitive anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule, citing risks from the coronavirus and dangers of violence. If the police decision survives appeal, it would be the first time since 2003 that a march on July 1 has been banned, the Civil Human Rights Front said. Some protesters may ignore the order and march. The decision spurred more protests on Sunday, leading to 53 arrests.

A survey by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute in mid-June found that 49 per cent of respondents "very much oppose" the security legislation, while another 7 per cent "somewhat oppose" it, Reuters reported. But the survey also indicated that public backing for street demonstrations had softened: support for protests fell to 51 per cent, down from 58 per cent in a poll in March.

Western governments object

As China has moved forward with plans to impose security laws in Hong Kong, foreign governments have criticized the decision. Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 leading industrialised democracies called on China this month to abandon the law, saying that it would undermine the autonomy of the territory.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the US would impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials, including retired ones "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy". He did not name any officials or say how many might be barred.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to allow nearly 3 million people from Hong Kong to live and work in the country. Johnson, however, has left unanswered questions about how those admitted might be able to obtain British citizenship.

Taiwan said this month that it would expand efforts to provide refuge to protesters and others who wish to leave Hong Kong. The government said it could, in certain cases, provide work and study visas, as well as assistance securing housing and jobs.

The New York Times