China's embassy hits back against U.S. criticism of Hong Kong's new national security law, urging the U.S. to "respect China's sovereignty."
Beijing dismisses chorus of concern from western governments over punitive new law as slanderChina has accused western governments and the United Nations of slander after they criticised Hong Kong’s new national security law, which was rushed through the city’s pro-Beijing parliament this week.The law, known as Article 23, covers newly defined acts of treason, espionage, theft of state secrets, sedition and foreign interference. Critics said it was ushering in a “new era of authoritarianism”,...
Demonstrators and governments alike warn of higher risk of detention under the Article 23 legislation.
China blasted critics of Hong Kong's new national security law on Wednesday, after Western powers and the United Nations said it would further curtail freedoms in the city.Hong Kong, a former colony of Britain before the 1997 handover back to China, on Tuesday passed a security law commonly referred to as Article 23 to punish five crimes after a fast-tracked legislative process.British foreign minister David Cameron said it was a "rushed" process for a law that would "further damage the rights...
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s aide arranged for Hong Kong activists to meet US senator Rick Scott when the politician visited the city during the 2019 protests and unrest, a key prosecution witness has told Lai’s national security trial. Andy Li, one of 12 Hongkongers caught by Chinese coastguard in August 2020, told the […]
Hong Kong’s legislature unanimously passed sweeping new powers on Tuesday that critics and analysts warned would align the financial hub’s national security laws more closely with those used on the Chinese mainland and deepen an ongoing crackdown on dissent. The lengthy national security bill – the first draft ran to 212 pages – was rushed through the city’s opposition-less Legislative Council with unusual haste at the request of city leader John Lee and debated over just 11 days. Coming into...
Hong Kong activists appealed to Canada and the US to restrict arms sales to the city and to impose sanctions on city officials over alleged “human rights abuses” during the 2019 protests and unrest, the national security trial of media mogul Jimmy Lai has heard. Lead prosecutor Anthony Chau on Tuesday drew the court’s attention […]
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s aide acted as an intermediary for handling donations raised through a crowdfunding campaign in 2019, a pro-democracy activist has testified in a high-profile national security trial. Andy Li continued the fourth day of his testimony at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building on Monday. Li, who was charged alongside […]
US and British officials on Monday filed charges, imposed sanctions, and accused Beijing of a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly hit millions of people including lawmakers, academics and journalists, and companies including defense contractors. Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic nicknamed the hacking group Advanced Persistent Threat 31 or "APT31", calling it an arm of China's Ministry of State Security. Officials reeled off a laundry list of targets: White House staffers, US...
There is widespread concern in Hong Kong and around the globe that the latest security law will further cripple civil society and foreign investment in the international financial hub.
Taipei, March 19, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Hong Kong legislature’s hasty passing of a national security law on Tuesday which could lead to the suppression of press freedom and prosecution of journalists. The city’s lawmakers unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Bill, enacted under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s
Hong Kong's new national security law came into force on Saturday, putting into immediate effect tough penalties of up to life imprisonment for crimes including treason and insurrection.The law -- commonly referred to as Article 23 -- targets five categories of national security crimes and was swiftly passed by Hong Kong's opposition-free legislature on Tuesday.The United States, the European Union, Japan and Britain have been among the law's strongest critics, with UK Foreign Minister David...