Four years ago, Beijing imposed a far-reaching text on Hong Kong to suppress dissent. This Wednesday, the territory’s leader announced that a national security law was being developed, scheduled for 2024. “Some countries are undermining China and the implementation of ‘One country, two systems’ » (principle which grants Hong Kong partial autonomy), accused the head of the Hong Kong executive John Lee, during his annual general policy speech.
“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 project in 2024 in order to fulfill our constitutional duty,” he further declared.
Pro-democracy demonstrations
Major pro-democracy demonstrations broke out in 2019 in the Asian financial center, during which hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to demand greater freedoms and autonomy from mainland China. In response, Beijing imposed a national security law punishing secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with sentences of up to life in prison.
According to 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 25 years after the return of the former British colony to China.
“Develop patriotic education”
In 2003, the last initiative was abandoned after half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest. According to the Hong Kong Security Bureau, a total of 280 people have been arrested until the end of September and 30 sentenced under the national security law in force since its promulgation by Beijing in 2020. The far-reaching text has effectively silenced dissent. Activists were arrested, others fled abroad. The law also had an impact on other aspects of local life, whether arts, literature or even schools.
The city will “develop patriotic education for [renforcer] national identity (…) by laying a good foundation for our national unity and solidarity,” John Lee 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 on Tuesday aimed at strengthening patriotic education for children and families, according to Chinese state media.