Beijing expands proposed national security law for Hong Kong to prohibit ‘activities’ that would ‘seriously endanger national security’
- The National People’s Congress has confirmed the amendment has been endorsed by its chairmen’s council
- Chief Executive Carrie Lam earlier said similar laws in Western countries have not scared away investors
Beijing’s proposed resolution for a national security law for Hong Kong was amended on Tuesday in an unexpected move that expanded its scope to prohibit “activities” that would “seriously endanger national security”, sources told the Post.
Students were planning to boycott classes, and labour unions supporting the anti-government movement called for a general strike, while activists online urged protesters to block roads and disrupt traffic to frustrate the authorities.
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As police said they would be out in force to prevent chaos, the official Xinhua news agency confirmed that an amendment to the resolution, presented by its constitution and law committee, had been endorsed by its chairmen’s council led by National People’s Congress (NPC) chairman Li Zhanshu on Tuesday.
No details were given, but sources told the Post the resolution would now suggest that the proposed law – which has sparked concerns about its implications for the city’s existing freedoms – would not only just prevent, stop and punish “acts” but also “activities” deemed to threaten national security.
The resolution is set to be put to a vote on Thursday, which would then be forwarded to the NPC Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body, to craft the bill in detail.
One source told the Post that Hong Kong deputies to the NPC who supported the amendment outnumbered those against it.
One of those who opposed it, pro-business lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun, questioned what this would mean for people taking part in protests that suddenly turned violent.