Shades Off | Like coronavirus fight, time for Hong Kong to adapt to national security law

Name: What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong
Uploaded: 2020-07-14T01:00:18.000Z
Duration: 5 min 50 s
Description: What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

The freedoms that are perceived as having been lost are gone and are most likely not coming back under the present regime

Getting on with our lives and doing what we can to stay safe is the price of being a Hongkonger in these challenging times

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Protesters display sheets of plain white paper during a demonstration in a shopping centre in Hong Kong on July 6. The vague language in the new national security law leaves many unanswered questions over how residents can express discontent and make sure their rights are upheld while not running afoul of the authorities. Photo: EPA

Peter Kammerer

Published: 9:00am, 14 Jul 2020Updated: 7:21pm, 3 Aug 2020

The national security law for Hong Kong has been written in such a way that what exactly constitutes a violation isn’t clear. Beijing wants it like that to ensure we are apprehensive about what we say and do.

We know the penalties, though, so the effect of the uncertainty is that those among us who feel righteous indignation at having freedoms curtailed may be tempted to hold their tongues. The dilemma then is how do we express discontent, protect our rights and ensure what is guaranteed by the Basic Law is upheld and delivered?

Seeking independence for Hong Kong is obviously outlawed, as is calling for overthrowing the Communist Party. But can we criticise decisions of the Chinese or Hong Kong governments? The Basic Law promises “a high degree of autonomy” and “universal suffrage” for the city, but our freedoms of speech and expression and the right to protest have been damaged, so can we seek their restoration to as they were on July 1, 1997?

Beijing does not see it that way; what some Hong Kong people want is irrelevant where protection of powers is concerned. What is perceived as having been lost has gone and is not coming back under the present regime.

05:50

What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

Some of us may not trust the authorities and those ensuring protection of laws and blame them for eroding cherished rights. The reverse is also true, though; this law and the measures taken to ensure it is upheld are seen from the mainland side as necessary because the people of Hong Kong cannot be trusted.

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.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Shades Off | Like coronavirus fight, time for Hong Kong to adapt to national security law

Shades Off | Like coronavirus fight, time for Hong Kong to adapt to national security law