Hong Kong will pass its own national security law in 2024, according to leader John Lee on Wednesday (Oct 25). This comes four years after Beijing enacted broad anti-dissent legislation.
Lee stated in his yearly policy address, “The government is pressing ahead to draw up effective legislative options and will complete the legislative exercise in 2024.”
Pro-democracy demonstrations rocked Hong Kong in 2019. Protests erupted in other parts of the world as well. Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the streets, seeking greater freedom and autonomy from China.
Beijing, on the other hand, reacted by enacting a national security law that punishes four primary crimes: secession, subversion, terrorism, and coordination with foreign forces. The punishments ranged from life in prison to death.
In 2020, China enacted a national security law for Hong Kong. The law made it simpler for Beijing to punish protestors and gave the mainland unprecedented powers to control life in Hong Kong, prompting many to call it “the end of Hong Kong.”
Lee, who was a security chief, said that the government would “continue to safeguard national security and improve its relevant legal system and enforcement mechanisms”.
The Basic Law of Hong Kong requires the city-state to enact its own legislation to tackle seven security-related offenses, including treason and espionage.
The task, dubbed “a constitutional responsibility” by the local government, has yet to be completed. The previous legislative attempt in 2003 was shelved after half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest the move.
Lee is concerned about the economy and security
Lee’s speech focused on the real estate market and stabilizing the economy. Lee predicted that Hong Kong’s economy, which shrank by 3.5% last year, would “resume growth this year” as incoming tourism and consumption increased and unemployment declined.
Hong Kong’s GDP expanded by 2.2% in the first half of the year and is forecast to increase by 4% year on year.
However, Lee added that the external environment remained challenging due to interest rate hikes in several advanced economies, with Hong Kong investment and asset markets being “negatively impacted.”