John Lee Ka-chiu, the leader of Hong Kong, announced on Wednesday October 25 that the territory, located in southern China, will draft its own national security law in 2024, four years after Beijing imposed a far-reaching text to suppress dissent.
“Certain countries are undermining China and the implementation of “one country, two systems” [the principle which grants Hong Kong partial autonomy],” accused the head of the Hong Kong executive during his annual policy speech general.
“External forces continue to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs,” the Beijing-approved leader said, adding that the city “will continue to safeguard national security and improve its legal system and control mechanisms.” “The government continues to develop effective legislative options and will complete the legislative work in 2024 to fulfill our constitutional duty. »
Pro-democracy protests in 2019
Major pro-democracy protests broke out in 2019 in Hong Kong, during which hundreds of thousands of people demanded greater freedoms and autonomy from mainland China.
In response, Beijing imposed a national security law cracking down on secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with sentences of up to life in prison.
Under the Basic Law, which serves as the constitution of the Chinese special administrative region, Hong Kong is required to develop its own legislation regarding seven security offenses, including treason and espionage.
This task, also called “constitutional responsibility” by the territorial government, has not yet been accomplished, more than twenty-five years after the return of the former British colony to China. In 2003, the last initiative was abandoned after half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest.
280 people arrested
According to the Hong Kong Security Bureau, a total of 280 people have been arrested by the end of September and 30 have been sentenced under the national security law in force since its promulgation by Beijing in 2020.
The text with significant repercussions silenced dissent. Activists were arrested, others fled abroad. The law also had an impact in the artistic, literary and educational fields.
The city will “develop patriotic education to [strengthen] national identity (…) by laying a good foundation for our national unity and solidarity,” John Lee Ka-chiu also declared on Wednesday.
A working group will be established to “advance national education and align with the Patriotic Education Law of the People’s Republic of China,” he added. This announcement comes the day after Beijing promulgated a law aimed at strengthening patriotic education for children and families, according to Chinese state media.