A new national security law took effect in Hong Kong on Saturday despite growing international criticism that it could undermine freedoms in the city, as Hong Kong is governed by China but has some autonomy, Asia Media reported.
The law took effect at midnight when it was published on a government website, days after Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing lawmakers passed it unanimously, speeding up the law’s passage.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee signed the new national security law on Friday evening, saying it “accomplished a historic mission, living up to the trust placed in us by the Central Authorities.”
Australia and Britain on Friday criticised China for its actions in Hong Kong after the Adelaide meeting. In addition, Australia and Taiwan updated their travel advisories for Hong Kong, urging citizens to exercise caution:
“You could break the laws without intending to and be detained without charge and denied access to a lawyer,” the Australian government said.
The United Nations and the European Union have criticised the extremely rapid passage of the law, which was first introduced as a bill in early March.
“It is alarming that such consequential legislation was rushed through the legislature through an accelerated process, in spite of serious concerns raised about the incompatibility of many of its provisions with international human rights law,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said earlier.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the law would have “broad implications” for American citizens and companies in Hong Kong.
“We share concerns expressed by other nations that Hong Kong authorities could seek to apply the new legislation extraterritorially in their ongoing campaign of transnational repression, and condemn efforts to intimidate, harass, and limit the free speech of US citizens and residents,” he said in a statement.
The new law covers treason, espionage and foreign interference, and is being closely watched by diplomats and businessmen who fear it could further undermine Hong Kong’s appeal as an international financial centre. According to official figures, some 291 people have been arrested for national security offences and 174 people and five companies have been charged.
Hong Kong authorities in a statement, “strongly condemned such political manoeuvres with skewed, fact-twisting, scaremongering and panic-spreading remarks.” China and Hong Kong’s government are defending security measures as necessary to restore order after months of sometimes violent anti-government street protests in 2019.
