Full draft of Hong Kong national security law will only be made public after it is passed by China’s top legislative body
- Sources say Beijing will rely on officials to explain details and hold discussions in Hong Kong with various sectors
- Legislation is effectively a done deal and expected to be passed on June 30, on eve of city’s handover anniversary
The controversial legislation is effectively a done deal, with the National People’s Congress Standing Committee meeting for three days beginning on Sunday, and expected to pass it by June 30, the eve of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule.
While opposition politicians, critics and legal experts warned a raft of unanswered questions had left Hongkongers fearful that the city’s autonomy and rule of law would be undermined, several sources told the South China Morning Post that the full draft of the law would not be made public until after its passage.
Beijing is determined to endorse the law as soon as possible
“Beijing is determined to endorse the law as soon as possible. It wants to slash the time for public discussion to reduce the dissenting voices regarding the law,” a source familiar with the central government’s line of thinking said.
Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the standing committee, said he had not heard about any plan for full details of the law to be released before its passage. Admitting it was an unusual arrangement, as some national laws would be subject to a 30-day consultation period, he said the decision was up to the head of the apex legislative body.
“We had to return the draft after the meeting. I don’t have the draft with me either,” Tam said, revealing how Beijing was keeping a tight lid on information.
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Hongkongers fearing national security law see BN(O) passports as sign of hope
Several rounds of discussions are expected between state officials and sectors in Hong Kong over the coming week. Zhang Yong, vice-chairman of the Basic Law Committee, as well as deputy directors of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) Zhang Xiaoming and Song Zhe, among other officials, will meet stakeholders, including members of the committee on the city’s mini-constitution starting from Tuesday.