Hong Kong lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously passed a new national security bill within a fortnight of it being tabled, fast-tracking a major piece of legislation that critics say further threatens the China-ruled city’s freedoms.
According to Reuters news agency, the package, known as Article 23, punishes treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets and espionage with up to life imprisonment.
The Legislative Council stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists was first presented with the bill on March 8, following a month-long public consultation. Hong Kong’s leader John Lee called it a “historic moment for Hong Kong”.
Authorities say the legislation – which will come into effect on March 23 – is necessary to plug loopholes in the national security regime despite the enactment of a sweeping China-imposed national security law that has been used to jail pro-democracy activists.
The new law will have extraterritorial effect, giving rise to fears it could be used to intimidate and restrict the free speech of residents outside Hong Kong.
