Letters | Welcome to Hong Kong, a gateway province of China

The national security law for Hong Kong passed four months ago is like a Pandora’s box, one that even legal pundits are yet to fully understand. It is broad, but it is not clear whether it has retroactive effect or not. It is confusing, complex and sometimes ambiguous, and can be twisted and applied to any one who inadvertently violates any of its articles.

Many in the community would agree that the young, immature activists went a bit too far, damaging our MTR, disrupting traffic by breaking signals and removing bricks from pavements, turning universities into resistance hubs and closing the Hung Hom harbour crossing for about two weeks.

However, that does not mean that the administration should retaliate so harshly. Germany, supported by 38 other countries including fellow EU member states the US and Britain, expressed deep concern about the situation in Hong Kong while criticising China’s human rights record in the United Nations on October 6.

Also, Hong Kong has plunged from fifth to 82nd place on the latest Gallup global law and order index. Several countries, including the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, Ireland, and most recently the Netherlands and Finland, have suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s judicial independence is at stake and confidence in it has been shaken. One Australian judge resigned from Hong Kong’s top court, telling Australia’s national broadcaster later that his decision was related to the national security law. More foreign judges may well become wary of antagonising mainland politicians over the law.

Then, this week seven current and former pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested for alleged offences committed during a Legislative Council meeting in May. This is too much. I’m not in favour of violent activists or terrorists. But that doesn’t mean the national security law should become a sword hanging over our heads.