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."
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.
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...
Critics say the ‘Article 23' legislation will be used to target peaceful dissent and quell political opposition.
Demonstrators and governments alike warn of higher risk of detention under the Article 23 legislation.
Hong Kong’s homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance has come into effect, four days after the legislation was unanimously approved at the city’s opposition-free legislature. Separate to the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the new legislation – gazetted midnight on Saturday – targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for […]
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...
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says for the new national security bill to be passed without a 'thorough process of deliberation and meaningful consultation is a regressive step for the protection of human rights in Hong Kong'
Pro-Beijing lawmakers fast-tracked the legislation, with tough punishment for acts considered "external interference," insurrection and other offenses.
New security rules entail discarding previous practices and increased self censorship, say frontline journalists.
A new national security law came into force in Hong Kong on Saturday despite growing international criticism that it could erode freedoms in the city, which is ruled by China but has some autonomy stemming from its history as a British colony. The law took effect at midnight when it
Beijing and Hong Kong defend the controversial law, saying it is necessary