Jun 30, 19:41
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National Security Act enters into force in Hong Kong
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The law provides for the establishment in Hong Kong of a National Security Committee subordinate to the authorities of the PRC, and also introduces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those whose actions are aimed at undermining power
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Фото: Tyrone Siu / Reuters
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The Hong Kong National Security Act, passed by the Chinese authorities, has officially entered into force. This was reported by the broadcasting company RTHK and the newspaper The South China Morning Post.
The new law is designed to prevent threats to state power, including the prevention of incitement, terrorism and interference of external forces in the affairs of the administrative region.
The document provides for the maximum sentence of life imprisonment:
- for those whose actions are aimed at undermining the power or separation of Hong Kong or another part of the country from China;
- for those who committed the attack;
- for those who conspired with foreign forces to endanger national security.
Also in Hong Kong, special representations of the state security organs of the PRC will be created. In particular, the National Security Committee, controlled by the Chinese government, will appear in Hong Kong.
Pompeo likens China to Nazi Germany because of the situation in Hong Kong
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At the end of May, when the law on ensuring national security in Hong Kong was still under discussion, protests began again in the administrative district. Police reported more than 120 detainees, SCMP wrote that thousands of protesters took to the streets.
The European Union, Canada, Great Britain and Australia also opposed the adoption of the law. They felt that this would undermine the principle of “one country – two systems”, which implies the coexistence of different economic and political systems within a single China.
The US authorities, in turn, if the law was passed, threatened China with new sanctions. “It seems that with this National Security Act, they are going to basically take over Hong Kong,” said Assistant President of the United States for National Security Robert O’Brien.
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China in response accused the US of interfering in the country’s internal affairs. “We urge the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, stop interfering in the internal affairs of China and not go further and further along the wrong path,” said Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
In 2019, protests were held in Hong Kong over the authorities’ plans to pass amendments to the law that would allow extraditing suspects to mainland China. Last fall, authorities in the administrative district recalled the bill.
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Victoria Polyakova.
