Anyone in Hong Kong convicted of secession, subversion, or terrorism will now be sentenced to life in prison under the controversial new security law passed by China this week.
Emerging details about the law, which took effect on Tuesday, come amid new concerns in Hong Kong and abroad that it will be used to curb opposition voices in the Asian financial center.
“The speed and secrecy with which China has pushed this legislation intensifies fears that Beijing has created a calculating weapon of repression to be used against government critics, including people who simply express their views or protest peacefully.” said Joshua Rosenzweig, head of Amnesty International’s Chinese team.
Protesters gather in a shopping center during a pro-democratic protest against Beijing’s national security law in Hong Kong on Tuesday. (AP)
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He called the passage of the law “the greatest threat to human rights in the city’s recent history.”
The legislation will be enforced by a national security committee that is being established under the control of Beijing, according to Sky News. The station says the group’s operations will be kept secret and that its decisions cannot be challenged by the Hong Kong courts.
The list of crimes that could lead someone to be charged with a serious crime is very broad, as the charge of terrorism includes disruption of public transportation, while subversion includes preventing Chinese or Hong Kong government agencies from complying with their obligations, reports Sky News.
And the charges can also be imposed on people who are not permanent residents of the semi-autonomous territory, Sky News reported, citing state media.
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Supporters of China, holding Chinese national flags, toast during a rally to celebrate the passing of a national security law for Hong Kong in Hong Kong on Tuesday. (AP)
“It marks the end of Hong Kong that the world knew before,” activist Joshua Wong reportedly wrote on Twitter after the law went into effect.
Wong, along with fellow activists Agnes Chow and Nathan Law, issued statements on Facebook saying they would withdraw from their organization Demosisto, which later announced that it would dissolve with the loss of its main members.
Wong said “worrying about life and security” has become a real problem and no one can predict the repercussions of the law, whether he is extradited to China or faces long prison terms.
Before the law was passed, the Trump administration said Monday it will ban defense exports to Hong Kong and will soon require licenses for the sale of items that have both civilian and military uses.
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“We cannot risk these items falling into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army, whose main objective is to defend the dictatorship of the (ruling Communist Party) by any means necessary,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Hong Kong government will mark the 23rd anniversary of the move from British to Chinese control territory. A series of official events have been scheduled and a strong police presence is expected to deter any anti-government protests of the type that rocked the city during the second half of last year.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
