Post by Admin on Jun 29, 2020 6:36:08 GMT
China has stunned Hong Kong with the swiftness of its move to impose a national security law on the city. Many worry this could spell the end of Hong Kong's unique freedoms. So what do we know, and what do people fear the most?
What is this law all about?
Hong Kong was always meant to have a security law, but could never pass one because it was so unpopular. So this is about China stepping in to ensure the city definitely has a legal framework to deal with what it sees as serious challenges to its authority. We know the law would make criminal any act of:
What could it do in Hong Kong?
The draft law has not been made public - even Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam sys she has not seen the full text. It's likely that won't come out until after it has been passed, which could be by the end of June, but some details have emerged:
Beijing will set up a national security office in Hong Kong, which will collect intelligence and "handle crimes" against national security. This office can send some cases to be tried in mainland China - but Beijing has said it will only have that power over a "tiny number" of cases "under specific circumstances"
In addition, Hong Kong will have to establish its own national security commission to enforce the laws, with a Beijing-appointed adviser
Hong Kong's chief executive will have the power to appoint judges to hear national security cases rather than the usual practice of taking the recommendation of a committee headed by the Chief Justice
The jail term for national security offences will range from five to 10 years, according to Tam Yiu-chung, the only Hong Kong delegate on the Chinese committee drafting the law
Importantly, Beijing will have power over how the law should be interpreted, not any Hong Kong judicial or policy body. If the law conflicts with any Hong Kong law, the Beijing law takes priority
Beijing has said Hong Kong should respect and protect rights and liberties while safeguarding national security - but many still fear the loss of Hong Kong's freedoms with this law.
"It is clear that the law will have a severe impact on freedom of expression, if not personal security, on the people of Hong Kong," says Professor Johannes Chan, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong.
There are reports of people deleting Facebook posts, and concerns that candidates opposing the national security law will be disqualified from running in elections.
Many are also afraid Hong Kong's judicial independence will be eroded and its judicial system will look increasingly similar to mainland China's. The city is the only common law jurisdiction in China.
What is this law all about?
Hong Kong was always meant to have a security law, but could never pass one because it was so unpopular. So this is about China stepping in to ensure the city definitely has a legal framework to deal with what it sees as serious challenges to its authority. We know the law would make criminal any act of:
What could it do in Hong Kong?
The draft law has not been made public - even Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam sys she has not seen the full text. It's likely that won't come out until after it has been passed, which could be by the end of June, but some details have emerged:
Beijing will set up a national security office in Hong Kong, which will collect intelligence and "handle crimes" against national security. This office can send some cases to be tried in mainland China - but Beijing has said it will only have that power over a "tiny number" of cases "under specific circumstances"
In addition, Hong Kong will have to establish its own national security commission to enforce the laws, with a Beijing-appointed adviser
Hong Kong's chief executive will have the power to appoint judges to hear national security cases rather than the usual practice of taking the recommendation of a committee headed by the Chief Justice
The jail term for national security offences will range from five to 10 years, according to Tam Yiu-chung, the only Hong Kong delegate on the Chinese committee drafting the law
Importantly, Beijing will have power over how the law should be interpreted, not any Hong Kong judicial or policy body. If the law conflicts with any Hong Kong law, the Beijing law takes priority
Beijing has said Hong Kong should respect and protect rights and liberties while safeguarding national security - but many still fear the loss of Hong Kong's freedoms with this law.
"It is clear that the law will have a severe impact on freedom of expression, if not personal security, on the people of Hong Kong," says Professor Johannes Chan, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong.
There are reports of people deleting Facebook posts, and concerns that candidates opposing the national security law will be disqualified from running in elections.
Many are also afraid Hong Kong's judicial independence will be eroded and its judicial system will look increasingly similar to mainland China's. The city is the only common law jurisdiction in China.