National security law: legislation already having deterrent effect, Hong Kong police chief tells CCTV in rare state television appearance
- ‘A person who once said he was proud to be arrested with young people, now tells you that advocating Hong Kong independence is dangerous,’ Chris Tang says
- Edwina Lau, who will head the unit tasked with enforcing the legislation, adds new law only underscores Beijing’s confidence in city’s police force
Chris Tang Ping-keung’s comments came during a rare appearance by Hong Kong police officials on state broadcaster CCTV and its English-language counterpart CGTN, which later interviewed Edwina Lau Chi-wai, the Tang deputy tapped to head the unit enforcing the legislation.
The interviews aired shortly before Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s office revealed the newly established Committee for Safeguarding National Security had met for the first time on Monday.
All 11 members were present, including Tang, Lau and Lam, the committee’s chairwoman. Her Beijing-appointed national security adviser, Luo Huining, who also heads the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, sat in on the meeting.
Beijing’s national security law for the city was imposed with immediate effect on June 30. Under the law, acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with external forces to threaten national security are punishable with sentences ranging up to life in prison.