Hong Kong proposes new national security bill

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Hong Kong government on Friday proposed a new indigenous national security law.

The 212-page bill under Article 23 of China’s semi-autonomous region’s Basic Law was submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for deliberations and vote.

When passed, the new law will carry harsher punishment for offenses including “treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, espionage, sabotage, and external interference.”

However, during a month-long public consultation process that ended nine days ago, many had asked the government to clarify what might constitute state secrets and external forces.

State secrets, the bill says, include defense, diplomatic, and foreign affairs; as well as national security, economic, social, and technological developments.

Under the new law, those convicted of treason, insurrection, sabotage by “colluding with external forces,” or inciting members of Chinese armed forces to mutiny will go to jail for life while those found guilty of illegally disclosing state secrets can be punished by a 10-year prison term.

It also empowers the court to send any suspect to custody, without charge, for one week which can be extended for a second week – thus, for 16 days in total.

Currently, a person can be held by authorities for only two days, or 48 hours, without a charge.

Under the new law, police can even ask courts to refuse suspects from engaging “particular lawyers” if such consultations are deemed endangering national security.

“The highest principle of the One Country, Two Systems policy is to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests,” states the bill.

Hong Kong, once the world’s top business attraction and freest city, has seen radical political and security changes ever since year-long demonstrations against the local government in 2019.

Later in July 2020, China imposed a controversial national security law while the method of local elections to LegCo and District Council was also changed.

The new law also proposes that human rights “are to be respected and protected, including the rights to free speech, freedom of the press and publication, freedom of association and assembly as enjoyed” under the Basic Law and international covenants that apply to Hong Kong.

The bill is expected to be passed into law by next month.