Hong Kong Hands More Power To Xi Jinping With New Security Law Cementing China's Control

In a move that has drawn international attention, Hong Kong has enacted a new security law that gives more control to China, raising concerns about the city’s autonomy and its future as a global business hub.

What Happened: Hong Kong has swiftly enacted a new domestic security law, raising alarms over the potential impact on the city’s freedoms and international business relations, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

The legislation, known as Article 23, was unanimously passed by Hong Kong’s legislature, which is now composed exclusively of “patriots” aligned with Xi Jinping‘s Communist Party’s ideologies. The bill’s rapid approval, within just 11 days, is unprecedented since the city’s 1997 handover to China.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, praised the law as a peak of patriotism and is set to sign it into effect on Saturday. The law concludes a two-decade-long initiative to implement local security measures aimed at safeguarding the Chinese state.

Security Secretary Chris Tang stated that the law has widespread support in Hong Kong, with the majority of public feedback during consultations being positive. The new law introduces severe penalties, including life sentences for treason and insurrection, and aligns with China’s broad laws on espionage.

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Experts such as Thomas Kellogg, from the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, have voiced concerns that the broadly defined state secrets offenses could impede the free flow of information, crucial for economic and financial markets.

The enactment of this law follows Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong, particularly after the 2019 pro-democracy protests and the subsequent imposition of a national security law in 2020. The local legislation has been passed despite international calls for a comprehensive review and meaningful consultation.

Why It Matters: The new security law in Hong Kong is the latest development in a series of events that have raised questions about the region’s autonomy and its relationship with China. In May 2020, the then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Congress that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous from China, which could potentially alter its trade relationship with the U.S.

This determination was based on a pro-democracy law requiring the State Department to assess Hong Kong’s autonomy. The president is mandated to impose sanctions on foreign agents that disrupt the region’s freedoms and autonomy. Pompeo’s announcement came amid China’s proposal of a law during its National People’s Congress, aimed at punishing acts of sedition against the national government.

More recently, in March, concerns over Hong Kong’s internet censorship were highlighted by the top US diplomat in the city, Gregory May. May warned that the growing censorship could undermine Hong Kong’s status as a global financial center, deterring American companies and damaging its reputation.

The government’s actions, such as removing the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” from the internet and blocking websites, justified on national security grounds, have raised concerns among Western tech giants operating in the city.

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