Hong kong: China imposed National security Law

Australian expats in Hong Kong are feeling jittery about their future after Beijing imposed a new national security law that could lead to foreigners being arbitrarily detained. They say the move has hastened their plans to leave the financial hub amid calls from their government for its citizens to “reconsider” their need to stay there.

It was inevitable that Chinese diplomats would excoriate Australia after prime minister Scott Morrison’s measured moves this week in response to Beijing’s draconian national security legislation for Hong Kong: offering limited sanctuary to Hong Kongers, suspending an extradition treaty with Hong Kong and heightening the travel warning for the city.

The United Kingdom has joined the United States in condemning China, accusing it of breaching the handover agreement that established the "one country, two systems" principle for Hong Kong. London is also offering millions of Hong Kong citizens an escape route through a new immigration plan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned Australia to stop interfering in China's affairs. He told a daily briefing: "We reserve the right to take actions and all consequences will be borne by the Australian side." When asked which international law Australia is in breach of, he said: “Non-interference is a basic norm in international relations. Need I say more?”

National Security Law:
The law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers, and critics say it undercuts political and legal freedoms that have existed since Britain handed the former colony to China in 1997. Hong Kong authorities insist the law is needed to restore stability after months of pro-democracy protests.

Hong Kong's government says the law is required to bring order to a city that saw mass pro-democracy protests last year that often turned violent.

On Monday, Hong Kong’s newly established national security committee released rules clarifying how portions of the law will be implemented. “The police can request online platform service providers to hand over information about their users, or remove content the government deems to be ‘endangering’ national security,” says Jenny Wang, a strategic adviser at the Human Rights Foundation. “This is a huge threat to internet freedom and the anonymity that Hong Kong protesters have relied on in the past year to organize and exchange ideas.”