FACTBOX-What people are saying about Hong Kong's national security law
Under the law, which will see mainland security agencies based in Hong Kong officially for the first time, the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces can be punished with up to life in prison, heralding a more authoritarian era for the Asian financial hub. Here is what people are saying about the law: Claudia Mo, opposition lawmaker: "When they say 'day is night and dark is light' you just can't argue because they are the law.
- Country:
- China
China has unveiled details of its sweeping national security legislation for Hong Kong, signaling the most profound change to the city's way of life since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Under the law, which will see mainland security agencies based in Hong Kong office for the first time, the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces can be punished with up to life in prison, heralding a more authoritarian era for the Asian financial hub.
Here is what people are saying about the law: Claudia Mo, opposition lawmaker:
"When they say 'day is night and dark is light' you just can't argue because they are the law. But this is not the rule of law, this is not even ruled by law. This is rule by decree. Because anything that's up to their interpretation. The free press could just be announced dead in Hong Kong. "This would tell you that they want not just to get us, but to intimidate us into inaction into a catatonic state. And the fact that they would put down in black and white that they would strengthen ... the management and over the foreign media in Hong Kong is another dire warning."
Cheng Keng-ieong, district councilor: "I'm just standing here. If I get arrested so be it. I'm not scared. The worse part of the laws is that the Hong Kong government has opened the door for China to come in and manipulate our laws."
Joshua Rosenzweig, deputy regional director at Amnesty International: "The definition of the crimes, separatism, subversion, terrorism, collusion with foreign forces ... all of these things, in our view, are open to abuse by authorities and could possibly be used to punish people for things that should be protected activities, particularly things related to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly.
"We're quite worried about what this law means in terms of not only the scope to which law enforcement may further restrict rights for people in Hong Kong, but also the power it gives to the authorities, both the Hong Kong authorities and central government authorities to punish those types of activities." Hugo Au, 26, hospitality industry:
"I believe the public has not had enough time to understand the content of the law and may be confused about what they can do and what they cannot do. I believe they are confused, there is confusion about the law. "People, certainly, will become less active in public actions like demonstrations."
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- China
- Hong Kong
- Claudia Mo
- Joshua Rosenzweig
- Amnesty International
- COVID-19
ALSO READ
EXPLAINER-South China Sea: Why are China and Philippines tensions heating up?
China says EU subsidy probes interfere with China, Europe cooperation
Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
Hong Kong detains and deports press freedom group staffer from city
China tried to meddle but Canadians decided the last two elections, says PM Trudeau