Exclusive | Beijing supported Hong Kong’s ‘fast-track’ subsidiary security law amid China-US trade talks
Expected easing of China-US tension because of trade deal provided good timing for legislation to be passed by the end of the week, sources say
Amid intensifying geopolitical tension, Hong Kong authorities deliberated “for months” over the need to provide clearer legal guidelines on the role of Beijing’s national security office in the city through subsidiary legislation, with the central government fully supporting the idea, prompting a “fast-track” decision in anticipation of an expected easing of the US-China trade war, the Post has learned.
The Hong Kong government completed the legislative procedure in four days, announcing the proposal on Monday, enacting it the following day through the “negative vetting” process and lawmakers completing their scrutiny on Thursday.
Multiple sources familiar with the legislative agenda told the Post that the subsidiary legislation, which came a little more than a year after the domestic national security law was passed, had been deliberated “for months” by the Hong Kong authorities and was supported by Beijing.
The domestic law, also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, had been a constitutional obligation of the city, and empowers the local government to make subsidiary legislation.
Last Monday marked a significant development when an agreement was reached to remove most tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump for an initial 90-day period. The temporary trade truce has been seen as putting a brake on the escalating tensions and a pause in the trade conflict that has strained global markets.