It ‘much more difficult than people expected. ‘China Pass the National Security Law to quell the protests in Hong Kong

It ‘much more difficult than people expected. ‘China Pass the National Security Law to quell the protests in Hong Kong

Beijing adopted a new law on national security late for Hong Kong on Tuesday, prompting international criticism and fear among pro-democracy data in the former British colony. The legislation adopted quickly granted broad new powers Beijing to suppress the protest movement that hit the city last year and turned into an open challenge against the Chinese government. Since it was announced in May, the national law, security has been kept secret. It occurred because the force of law to him that the Hong Kong government published the full text and reveal the extent of his powers shortly before midnight on Tuesday. “It ‘s much more difficult than people,” said Willy Lam, a Chinese politics expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In the power set on the eve of the politically sensitive anniversary of Hong Kong’s transition from Britain to China 23 years ago, the law prohibits acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The crimes carry heavy penalties offenders to a life in prison can provide. The law also allows you to establish a Public Security Bureau of Beijing and security agents sent to work in the city. Even before its entry into force, the law began to have a deterrent effect. Some activists deleted social media accounts while many pro-democracy and determination to independence factions or moved their operations abroad. In anticipation of a raid, some companies prints and works of art of the city to support the sometimes violent demonstrations that from June 2019. Less of Hong Kong have rolled out 24 hours after its adoption, the law has been used to a man to arrest a flag independence Hong Kong waiting for police. Alan Leong, a leader of the pro-democracy civic and former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association called the new measure “the worst form of authoritarian rule by law”. What does the National Security Act do? The law criminalizes the secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with penalties of up to life imprisonment. The law also states that it is committed by anyone, both residents of Hong Kong and overseas, measures taken, even if they are outside the city, written by an English translation of the text from the local news website of Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP). Accusations of terrorism can apply actions as a “serious disturbance” of the city’s transport networks, the protesters have often done at the height of the movement last year. Plea for foreign governments to impose sanctions, some activists in the city have asked the United States and other governments to also-within the scope of the legislation. City Police will be a new Department of Homeland Security, but the Chinese government is to oversee national security for the region set up an office in Hong Kong established. The Chinese security officials continent that are not legal in Hong Kong will be sent to the city. Beijing will have the power to bring prosecutions for “complex” and is permitted in some cases, closed-door trial. The law shall determine the laws of Hong Kong overwritten if inconsistencies arise. Leong said that this provision radically change the Hong Kong legal system. There is. “It contains the terms and expressions that are foreign to the legal system of Hong Kong” he says that the accused by the National Security Act are violated treaties, “every protection that can be achieved … the legal system of Hong Kong.” Why it was approved today? Beijing announced the end of May to the legislative process to bypass Hong Kong and the implementation of the National Security Law from the semi-autonomous city against its constitutional obligation to comply with these provisions should be adopted. Political analysts suggest that Beijing’s patience was running behind the protests that have paralyzed the city for much of the second half of 2019 and plunged the global financial center in its first recession in a decade. Under the “one country, two” agreed systems if the UK relegated the colony to China, the city has 7.5 million euro to its own law, and the laws and court system. Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the rules of mini-constitution governing the matter, necessary for the Hong Kong government to enact national security laws themselves, but not to agree with local legislators on their. “The rapid rise of the unprecedented violence and calls for independence coupled with a dysfunctional [Legislative] Council left [the] Chinese government no alternative but a PRESCRIBE law” Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong facto cabinet, he tells TIME. “We can only hope that a fair balance between the protection of security and national integrity on the one hand and preserving the freedom and values ​​of the people of Hong Kong with each other are beaten.” The Chinese government states that matters of national security the responsibility of Beijing, and Hong Kong, as jurisdictions around the world, a national security law. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in June that the protests in Hong Kong, thousands injured and arrested and have seen the value of millions of dollars of damage, the national security legislation a matter of fact “the utmost urgency.” The break with previous published, the Standing Committee of the National Congress of the People in Beijing has no draft legislation for public comment before it was passed. high official of Hong Kong, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, at a press conference confirmed shortly after the passage he had not seen the whole document. Some say the law was rushed to avoid massive reaction. The streets were usually quiet after a temporary pause in the demonstrations in the middle of the crown pandemic. “[Chinese authorities] were afraid of the reaction of the population,” Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of political science at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) tells TIME. “They want to make sure that will be published as soon as possible before people begin to organize and protest.” Others suggest the timing has to do with the upcoming elections for the legislature of the city in September. Lam, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says that the new measures that could trigger a change in the political landscape of Hong Kong during the swing against candidates who show no loyalty to Beijing. “This could become a weapon will be disqualified for Democracy potential candidates,” he says. As the United States and other governments? increasing the power of Beijing on Hong Kong has a point of contention between the US and China. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested Monday that the Chinese government about its introduction of the National Security Law. The non “US stand idly by” while Beijing “swallows Hong Kong in its authoritarian mouth,” he said in a statement. Following the decision of the Communist Party to launch the National Security Law for the area Pompey announced that Hong Kong, which defines the special trade and economic relations of the city, with the United States has threatened not sufficiently independent from the Chinese mainland, a decision . The Senate passed a bill on June 25 to impose sanctions against individuals and organizations such as the semi-autonomy China promised Hong Kong at the time of its delivery in 1997 and hurt each foreign financial companies that knowingly “significant transactions” that lead to blacklist . On 26 June, Pompey announced that the State Department would have imposed visa restrictions for Chinese officials of the Communist Party, which she believes undermine high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, and the limitation of their human rights. And on Monday, the United States announced that defense equipment of the United States to Hong Kong Export stopped. “We can not risk these elements fall into the hands of the people People’s Liberation Army, whose main aim is the dictatorship of the CCP with all the necessary means for the defense,” Pompey said in a statement. The European Parliament is now asking for a non-binding resolution of the EU Member States has led to adopt “sanctions and asset freezes against Chinese officials responsible for the bad design and implementation of measures for human rights.” It is recommended that the EU and its member states a case be brought before the International Court of Justice, as soon as the law of national security was approved. The U. K. said that will change immigration laws to make it easier for some Hongkongers to move it. Taiwan also said that help Hongkongers, the self-ruled island to be moved. In response to international criticism, the US government and other governments urged to stop meddling in the affairs of Hong Kong Chinese officials. In retaliation for visa restrictions by the United States announced in Beijing he said that the visa restrictions for some Americans to impose “an egregious behavior in relation to Hong Kong.” How did they react protesters Hong Kong? The introduction of national security laws has however sparked a fresh small-scale riots in Hong Kong. More than 50 people who were protesting against the law Sunday arrested. Despite the police ban on the annual July 1 March, the anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China, some activists plan to demonstrate in each case. But the law of national security could deter the moderate protesters, many of whom have begun to shy away from demonstrations late last year visited the protests were violent. “It might fear some people,” Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told TIME. the adoption of the law, activists Joshua Wong political party Demosistō “The protests against the law of state power could be seen as undermining understand.” In dissolved race. First, several prominent members, including Wong, announced they would resign. The group then said he would dissolve. “From now on #Hongkong a new era of reign of terror comes,” Wong wrote on Twitter. Even given two known pro-independence groups, the Hong Kong and Studentlocalism National Front who close their operations and local chapter go elsewhere. HKBU the Cabestan said the protesters could be more careful about what they sing slogans and posters that promote them. The protesters waved American flags and frequently than others and prompted foreign governments to come to their aid, and calls for the independence of Hong Kong had become increasingly popular in recent weeks, but, he says, the implementation of the law, tensions between young Hongkongers tighten and the police, and will lead to further clashes. “It ‘s one thing you can not change the law: the mentality,” he said. “I think if anything, the new law is the anti-China mentality among many You [th] consolidate.” A young protester time that the law does not prevent him from the street said. “Nothing can stop us, we have already lost so much,” W., a 20-year-old University student who asked for security to go from his first told. “We know it’s risky, but there is no turning back, the only thing we can do to end the resistance.”