<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/hong-kong-new-national-security-law-dissent>
"Hong Kong’s parliament has passed a controversial national security law
granting the government more power to quash dissent, widely seen as the latest
step in a sweeping political crackdown triggered by pro-democracy protests in
2019.
Critics of the safeguarding national security law, also known as article 23,
say it will further erode the city’s rights and freedoms and usher in a new era
of authoritarianism.
Under the law, treason, insurrection and sabotage can be punished with life
sentences, while jail terms for sedition are increased from two years to seven,
or 10 if alleged perpetrators are found to have colluded with a foreign force.
The law also lengthens allowable periods of detention without charge from 48
hours to two weeks.
The bill was rushed through the legislative council in two weeks after being
open for community consultation for just 30 days. It was passed unanimously on
Tuesday by the 90-seat chamber, which is made up almost wholly of pro-Beijing
establishment legislators. All but one sitting member spoke during the
seven-hour debate on the second reading.
The UN rights chief, Volker Türk, denounced the “rushed” adoption of the law,
which he said was “a regressive step for the protection of human rights”.
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said the law would have far-reaching
implications and further damage the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong.
Britain, the former colonial power in Hong Kong, has been increasingly critical
of moves by China to suppress dissent.
“The overall impact of Hong Kong’s new national security law is that it will
further damage the rights and freedoms enjoyed in the city,” Cameron said in a
statement. “The broad definitions of national security and external
interference will make it harder for those who live, work and do business in
Hong Kong.”
A US State Department spokesperson said the bill could accelerate the closing
of a once open society and it was analysing the potential risks to US citizens
and American interests."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
