Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously passed a new national security law that expands the government’s power to crush dissent. The law includes new measures on treason, espionage, external interference, state secrets and sedition. Chief Executive John Lee says new powers are needed to protect Hong Kong’s status. Critics say they're too vague and will be used to further silence dissent. 

Central

Hong Kong's Legislative Council has recently approved a new national security law, designed to grant the government expanded authority to address acts of dissent. The law encompasses a broad range of measures including treason, espionage, external interference, state secrets, and sedition. This legislative action has garnered unanimous support within the Council.

Chief Executive John Lee has voiced support for the newly passed law, asserting that these enhanced powers are essential for safeguarding Hong Kong's position and stability. However, the law has faced criticism for its ambiguous provisions, with detractors warning that it could be wielded to suppress dissenting voices further.



Hong Kong's legislature passes new national security law

In Hong Kong, legislators meet to discuss proposed national security legislation known as Article 23. It is Hong Kong's constitutional responsibility to enact the Article 23 legislation under the Basic Law to safeguard national security. I believe everyone here at the Legislative Council feel honoured to be able to take part in this historical mission. It covers acts of treason, sedition and more, and includes provisions which allow for police to detain suspects for up to two weeks without charge, compared to two days now. It would also give police the power to deny some suspects access to a lawyer, and create mechanisms to cancel the passports of so-called absconders. It makes the national security regime much more comprehensive, so it includes a whole raft of things that were not crimes before, or that were colonial crimes but they've updated the crimes, they've increased the amount of penalty. Some human rights organisations and foreign governments have criticised the vagueness of Article 23, and said it may be used to silence critics. A previous attempt to pass the bill in 2003 saw more than half a million people protest, before it was withdrawn. Now there are no indications of dissent. The same park where demonstrators assembled more than 20 years ago is now hosting a flower exhibition. The situation has changed a lot. You ask the people here, actually if you ask them they dare not tell you, because they will not answer you. But as I said, there are no demonstrations, no protests, no public assembly. It's very quiet, eerily quiet. In 2020, Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong, following months of pro-democracy protests. Since then, opposition politicians have been jailed, and many news outlets and civil society organisations shut down. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated his commitment to the One Country, Two Systems policy, which is intended to allow Hong Kong to be governed with a high degree of autonomy. In the Legislative Council building, legislators say the change is necessary to protect Hong Kong's status as an international hub. One politician likened the law to a front gate guarding Hong Kong's people from danger. Jessica Washington, Al Jazeera.

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