The United Kingdom has expressed its deep concerns over Chinas passing of the national security law for Hong Kong, that would allow authorities to crack down on subversive and secessionist activity, the foreign secretary has said.
The South China Morning Post newspaper and public broadcaster RTHK, both citing unnamed sources, said that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress voted unanimously to approve a national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday.
The legislation is said to be aimed at stopping subversive, secessionist and terrorist activities, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s affairs.
The passing of the new law follows months of anti-government protests that at times descended into violence in Hong Kong last year.
The United Kingdom has expressed deep concerns with the new law, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Dominic Raab said: “We are deeply concerned by unconfirmed reports that Beijing has passed the national security law.
“This would be a grave step.
“Once we have seen the full legislation, we will make a further statement.”
Tam Yiu-Chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, confirmed in an interview with reporters Tuesday that the law had been passed.
He said punishments would not include the death penalty, but did not elaborate on further details such as whether the law could be applied retroactively.
Tam You-Chung said: “We hope the law will serve as a deterrent to prevent people from stirring up trouble,
“Don’t let Hong Kong be used as a tool to split the country.”
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam earlier declined to comment on the law at a weekly meeting with reporters, saying it was inappropriate for her to do so while the Standing Committee was still meeting.
She did say that once the law is passed, “the Hong Kong government will announce it and promulgate it for implementation here, and then I and my senior officials will do our best to respond to everyone’s questions, especially regarding the enforcement of this national law.”
The new legislation has been met with fierce criticism from the former ruler of Hong Kong, Britain and her allies such as the United States, the European Union.
Human rights groups have warned the law could target opposition politicians seen as insufficiently loyal to Beijing for arrest or disqualification from running in September elections for the Legislative Council.
The United Kingdom has previously said that Hong Kong citizens would get an offer to be relocated to Britain if the law was passed limiting and restricting their freedoms in a direct breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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