ExclusiveHong Kong national security law has driven away foreign agents and troublemakers, dried up overseas funding for anti-government activists, top official says

Secretary for Security John Lee brands activists and former lawmakers who fled overseas to escape criminal charges stemming from the 2019 protest chaos as ‘cowards’

Authorities will remain vigilant, as there are still people in the city promoting the idea of independence for Hong Kong and staying in contact with overseas forces, he says

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Secretary for Security John Lee. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 7:00am, 15 Apr 2021Updated: 8:35am, 15 Apr 2021

Nine months after Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong, the city’s security chief says the legislation has driven away foreign agents, dried up funding from overseas for anti-government activists, and chased off or silenced troublemakers.

In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, with the city set to mark its first National Security Education Day, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu branded activists and former lawmakers who fled overseas to escape criminal charges stemming from the 2019 protest chaos as “cowards” who would eventually pay the price.

Authorities would remain vigilant, as there were still people in the city promoting the idea of independence for Hong Kong and staying in contact with overseas forces, he said.

Hong Kong marks its first National Security Education Day on Thursday. Photo: Nora Tam

Since the legislation came into force on June 30 last year, the police national security department has arrested 100 people and prosecuted 57. The law bans acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with offenders facing up to life imprisonment.

Taking stock, Lee said the strong deterrent effect of the law had returned Hong Kong to normal life after the turmoil of 2019, and those responsible for bringing the city to the brink had been driven away.

“Before and after the promulgation, we have seen people, foreigners, suddenly leaving and fleeing Hong Kong. It also stopped a lot of foreign money coming … and stopped foreign and local organisers [causing] trouble. You could see a lot of Hong Kong traitors and troublemakers either declared they’ve retired from what they used to do or fled,” Lee said.

“The longer time goes by, you can see the picture more clearly. You can see that foreign intervention was one of the key factors that caused Hong Kong to be very different … with that kind of violence, atrocity and alienation.”