As the only city in China to advocate the
separation of powers, Hong Kong long attracted many foreign companies to invest and develop their businesses in the city with the protection of its legislative and judicial systems.
But everything seems to have changed after Beijing promulgated the Hong Kong
national security law late on June 30. The law aims to prevent, stop and punish secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and foreign interference. Pro-democracy politicians and critics warned that it could be used to suppress dissent and erode freedom in the city, but their concerns were brushed aside by the Hong Kong government.