- The proposal was voted on by the annual and largely rubber-stamp National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday afternoon, allowing China to unilaterally force national security laws in Hong Kong.
- Critics have said the new laws spell the "end of Hong Kong" and its freedoms. The aggressive action has already prompted renewed protests in the city.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
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China passes landmark legislation to force national security laws in Hong Kong, effectively crushing the city's autonomy
China passed new national security legislation for Hong Kong on Thursday in a major blow to the city's autonomy.
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China passed new national security legislation for Hong Kong on Thursday, effectively curtailing the semi-autonomous city's freedoms in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation since it was first discussed last week.
The proposal was voted on by the annual National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday afternoon, allowing China to unilaterally draft a national security law for Hong Kong. The legislative meeting largely rubber-stamps decisions already made by the top tiers of China's Communist Party.
According to state media agency Xinhua , Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, said that "increasingly notable national security risks" in Hong Kong have prompted China to step in and bypass the city's legislative bodies.
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Although he was not specific, his remarks were a clear reference to the protest movement which has roiled the city for much of the past year.
"Law-based and forceful measures must be taken to prevent, stop and punish such activities," he said.
What are the new national security laws?
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Feng Li/Getty Images
Hong Kong formally operates with significant autonomy from the rest of China, an arrangement called " one country, two systems ." However, Hong Kong's relationship with the mainland is growing more fraught as time passes.
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Hong Kong operated under British colonial rule for more than 150 years until its sovereignty was passed on to China in 1997 through an agreement called " the Basic Law. " This allows Hong Kong to maintain its own political, legal, and economic systems separate from China until 2047.
The Basic Law, or Hong Kong's mini-constitution, calls for the city to enact national security laws to prohibit "treason, secession, sedition [and] subversion" against the Chinese government. It is referred to as Article 23 .
However, these laws were never enacted. An attempt to do so in 2003 resulted in mass protests which forced the bill to be shelved.
This new national security provisions would be added on to the Basic Law, according to the BBC , which also means that China would be modifying the agreement without Hong Kong's approval.
Last week,Hong Kong's government signaled support for the legislature and said it would cooperate with China to enforce the laws in Hong Kong.
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Chinas actions prompt renewed protests
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Ben Bland, a research fellow at Australia's Lowy Institute and author of "Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China's Shadow," told Business Insider that China's decision to push the new laws onto Hong Kong "represents a major blow to Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy."
Pro-democracy leader Joshua Wong tweeted that the move was "retaliation" for the last several months of protest spurred by the deeply unpopular extradition bill proposal that was ultimately shelved indefinitely.
Maya Wang, a senior China researcher for Human Rights Watch, said that the bill could spell the end of Hong Kong.
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"The end of Hong Kong is alarming not only for its people but also for the world," she said, according to Hong Kong Free Press news website.
In the past few days thousands haven taken to the streets in Hong Kong , resulting in police officers firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray onto crowds. At least 300 people have been arrested.
John Wong, a solicitor in his 30s from Hong Kong, told Business Insider the new rules "blatant violation" of Hong Kong law. He said he anticipates violent protests in the future.
"The rule of law, efficient and fair government and due process that we have taken for granted seems to have been lost."
"The main feeling is frustration, even more so than anger of sadness," he added.
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See Also:
- US mission to the UN accuses China of 'exploiting COVID-19' to distract from abuses in Hong Kong as tensions boil over
- Xi Jinping urges China's army to prepare for armed combat as Hong Kong protests restart over a new bill that would strip away the city's freedoms
- Hong Kong activists are begging German Chancellor Angela Merkel not to sacrifice the country's values to please China
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