The Chinese government is set to present a controversial Hong Kong security law at its congress, the most important political event of the year.
Photo: AFP / Xinhua / Shen Hong
Pro-democracy activists fear China pushing through the law could mean "the end of Hong Kong" - that is, the effective end of its autonomy and these freedoms.
According to the Basic Law - Hong Kong's mini-constitution - the territory's government is required to pass national security legislation.
An attempt to do so in 2003 failed after 500,000 people took to the streets in opposition.
Such laws have never been passed and Beijing's latest attempt to push the laws through has caused outrage among pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong after the sustained wave of violent protest and demands for democratic reform that have been ongoing since March last year. The protests continued until the Covid-19 outbreak forced restrictions on gatherings.
Hong Kong is what is known as a "special administrative region" of China and has observed a "one country, two systems" policy since Britain returned sovereignty in 1997, which has allowed it certain freedoms the rest of China does not have.
The annual National People's Congress largely rubber-stamps decisions already taken by the Communist leadership.
In theory however, Beijing could simply bypass Hong Kong's elected legislators and impose the changes.
Pro-democracy activists fear the law will be used to muzzle protests as similar laws in China are used to silence opposition to the Communist Party.
Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok said "if this move takes place, 'one country, two systems' will be officially erased. This is the end of Hong Kong".
Student activist and politician Joshua Wong tweeted that the move was an attempt by Beijing to "silence Hong Kongers' critical voices with force and fear".
One legislator on Thursday called the laws "the most controversial [issue] in Hong Kong since the handover".
The US also weighed in, saying the move could be "highly destabilising" and undermine China's obligations. US President Trump said the US would react strongly if the law went through.
The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, called the move a "comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy"
Sources at the National People's Congress (NPC) said Beijing could no longer wait for Hong Kong to pass its own law, nor could it continue to watch the growth of what it sees as a violent anti-government movement.
One source told the South China Morning Post: "We can no longer allow acts like desecrating national flags or defacing of the national emblem in Hong Kong."
Beijing may also fear September's elections to Hong Kong's legislature. If last year's success for pro-democracy parties in district elections is repeated, government bills could potentially be blocked.
Announcing the move on Thursday, spokesman Zhang Yesui gave little away, saying the measure would "improve" on one country, two systems.
"National security is the bedrock underpinning the stability of the country. Safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interest of all Chinese, our Hong Kong compatriots included," Zhang said.
After debating the issue, the NPC will vote on it next week. The matter would then not advance until June, when it goes before China's Standing Committee.
An editorial in the state-run China Daily said the law meant that "those who challenge national security will necessarily be held accountable for their behaviour".
In Hong Kong, the pro-Beijing DAB party said it "fully supported" the proposals, which were made "in response to Hong Kong's rapidly worsening political situation in recent years".
About Hong Kong
Hong Kong was under British control for more than 150 years up to 1997.
The British and Chinese governments signed a treaty - the Sino-British Joint Declaration - that agreed Hong Kong would have "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs", for 50 years.
This was enshrined in the Basic Law, which runs out in 2047.
As a result, Hong Kong's own legal system, borders, and rights - including freedom of assembly and free speech - are protected.
But Beijing has the ability to veto any changes to the political system and has, for example, ruled out direct election of the chief executive.
Hong Kong saw widespread political protests in 2019 but these became much smaller during the coronavirus outbreak.
But anger is still simmering, as chaotic scenes n Hong Kong's legislative chamber on Monday showed: a number of pro-democracy lawmakers were dragged out during a row about the Chinese national anthem.
The government on its part has signalled its determination to act and recently charged prominent pro-democracy activists over last year's protests.
- BBC