National security law: new threat as Hong Kong independence activists shift from street protests to the arts and media for separatist promotion, security chief warns

Security law has pushed pro-independence campaigners to softer forms of resistance, such as promotion via cultural channels, Chris Tang says

Justice minister Teresa Cheng tells journalists they can only access the industry’s legal protections if they ‘act in good faith’

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Pro-independence supporters have been backing their cause through other means than protests since the national security law’s imposition, a senior Hong Kong official says. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:21pm, 5 Jul 2021Updated: 1:43am, 6 Jul 2021

Campaigners for Hong Kong independence have turned to softer forms of resistance following a year of police enforcing the national security law, spreading their separatist message through the arts and media rather than street protests, according to the city’s security chief.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warned new threats to Hong Kong’s stability were emerging from cultural and media sectors, while the city’s justice minister told journalists they must “act in good faith” or lose the legal protections granted to their profession.

Tang and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah were speaking at Monday’s National Security Law Legal Forum, where several mainland Chinese officials laid down a host of new requirements on city officials for discharging their national security obligations, such as updating related local legislation.

Hong Kong’s security chief Chris Tang. Photo: Handout

The National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body, last June imposed the national security law on Hong Kong to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, following the anti-government protests that gripped the city for the latter half of 2019.

Also addressing the Department of Justice’s symposium were Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu, both commending the national security law for bringing stability to the city.