China to present controversial Hong Kong security law

China has planned to enforce new national security law in Hong Kong on Friday. Activists in the city have begun protests.

US President Donald Trump has said that the US will react “very strongly” to the new security law.

China is set to present a controversial national security law for Hong Kong. The decision seems a major blow to the city’s freedom.

According to the international news agency, the law to ban “treason, secession, sedition and subversion” could bypass lawmakers of Hong Kong.

Critics claim that China is breaking the promise to grand Hong Kong freedoms.

The plan to enforce the law was submitted at the annual National People’s Congress that approve the decisions Communist Leadership already take. However, this is considered the most significant political event of the year.

Hong Kong was always meant to have presented such laws after its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. But it never happened and resulted in a violent protest last year.

China believes “law-based and forceful measures” must be taken to “prevent, stop and punish” such protests in the future.

Wang Chen, vice chairman of the standing committee of the NPC explained that the ‘draft decision’-as it is known ahead of approval by NPC.

It is composed of 7 articles. In the article, it was said that Hong Kong “must improve” national security, before adding: “When needed, relevant national security organs of the Central People’s Government will set up agencies in Hong Kong to fulfill relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law.”
China’s Premier Li Keqiang addressed the congress and spoke of the economic impact of the coronavirus,

On Hong Kong (and also Macau) he made this reference: “We will establish sound legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the two Special Administrative Regions