“China tables draft Hong Kong security law in sign it intends to rush legislation”, 18 June 2020

Beijing has tabled a draft of the Hong Kong national security laws before its top lawmaking body, indicating it intends to rush through the contentious legislation which promises to drastically increase Chinese control over the semi-autonomous region.

State media reported the draft law was put before the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), charged with drafting the law, for a three-day session…

Typically bills should go through three rounds of deliberation by the NPC committee, a process that could take six months but can be shortened if special sessions are called. Chinese officials said… that the laws would be implemented “without delay” and state media reports have said it could be enacted within a month.

The report by the state news agency Xinhua gave little detail on the draft, but said it clarified the four major offences – including secession, subversion of state power, and terrorist activities – and the associated penalties.

Beijing appears to have strengthened the wording of the fourth offence relating to foreign involvement, and what was previously criminalising “foreign and external interference in Hong Kong affairs” now criminalises “collusion with foreign and external forces” to endanger national security.

In late May, Beijing’s parliament rubber-stamped the proposal to introduce national security laws, which could establish mainland security agencies and secret police in Hong Kong. The decision drew condemnation from pro-democracy and legal figures inside Hong Kong and globally, and has caused alarm among businesses and media.

… all G7 nations issued a joint statement expressing deep concern about the laws, and urging Beijing to reconsider. In response they were met with a sharp rebuke and indignation by the Chinese foreign ministry, and were told to stop interfering in “Chinese affairs”…

Claudia Mo, a high-profile pro-democracy politician, said the laws seemed a “fait accompli”.

“Every time in Hong Kong you think things can’t get worse, things will get worse. So we’re almost numbed to it,” Mo said. “Under this new law anything can come under their prescribed crimes. You do or say anything and you can [face] trumped up charges.”.

Mo was sceptical of assurances that extradition would only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Martin Lee, a former legislator considered the father of Hong Kong’s democracy, said Beijing’s actions “make a nonsense of the safeguards contained in the Basic Law”…

Lee said if the law allowed extradition then it undid the work of the pro-democracy movement and threatened all those who protested…