Hong Kong moves to pass its own national security law, raising fears of further crackdown on dissent

Hong Kong began public consultation on a local national security law, over three years after Beijing imposed a similar law that has all but wiped out dissent.

HONG KONG — Hong Kong began public consultation on a local national security law on Tuesday, more than three years after Beijing imposed a similar law that has all but wiped out dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

The new law could expand the government’s ability to prosecute residents for offenses like collaborating with foreign forces to influence legislation or “publish misleading statements,” and to close down civil society organizations. Some of its provisions threaten criminal prosecutions for acts committed anywhere in the world.

Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, calls for the city to enact a national security law, but it has been delayed for decades because of widespread public opposition based on fears it would erode civil liberties. In 2003, an attempt to pass a version of the law set off street protests that drew half a million people, and the legislation was shelved.

But the city’s crackdown on political opposition most likely clears the way for the bill to pass easily. Since 2020, many of the city’s leading pro-democracy activists have been arrested, silenced or forced into exile. Dozens of civil society groups have been disbanded, and outspoken media outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News have been shut down.

The draft text will be written later based on input from public consultation, which began Tuesday and will end Feb. 28. But the city released a 110-page document Tuesday outlining its plans for the legislation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hong-kong-article-23-national-security-law-rcna136492

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