China Enacts Security Law, Asserting Control Over Hong Kong
Beijing's top legislative body has unanimously passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong, a controversial move that could effectively criminalize most dissent in the city and risks widening the rift between China and western countries who have criticized the law.
The news was first reported by local Hong Kong media: cable televsion station NOWNews; the city's public broadcaster; and a slew of newspapers, including Wei Wen Po and Ta Kung Pao, two pro-Beijing outlets which often signal official Chinese policy.
Hours later, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported President Xi Jinping had already signed the measure into law. Xinhua said it will be incorporated into Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution, and become effective Wednesday, the anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from British to Chinese Rule.
Hong Kong security law: Anger as China's Xi signs legislation
One key pro-democracy group said it was now ceasing all operations. Demosisto announced the move on Facebook after Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong's most prominent activists, said he was leaving the group, which he had spearheaded.
[...] Demosisto said several members had asked to be delisted and it had decided to "dissolve and stop all meetings". It said that the fight against "totalitarian oppression" would have to continue in a "more flexible manner". Joshua Wong said the law marked "the end of Hong Kong that the world knew before".
Also at NYT, Reuters, and Hong Kong Free Press.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Dale on Wednesday July 01 2020, @12:56PM (5 children)
The only surprising thing about this is that it has taken so long. I would have thought they would have forced this a decade or more ago. The fact that things have gone on for over 20 years is the only surprising thing.
It is no different than when a company buys/merges/whatever another company and give lip service to "let them keep doing their thing." Every time it turns out the same, just with differing amounts of time. See any/all EA buys, what we're witnessing from Blizzard, and countless other examples.
Anyone in Hong Kong that looks at China and says "this is not what I want" should get out as soon as possible before the door closes. The UK has extended some possible exits for some portion of residents of Hong Kong. I don't know what other options there are for people, but hopefully those that don't want their kids or the kids' kids to live under the current situation will take action now before it is too late.
(Score: 2) by RamiK on Wednesday July 01 2020, @01:13PM
Takes a while to move everything to bitcoin: https://decrypt.co/34047/the-most-secretive-bitcoin-wallet-just-moved-nearly-1-billion [decrypt.co]
compiling...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2020, @02:40PM
We can do this [metro.co.uk]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2020, @06:13PM
20 years is the time it takes to grow a generation with no connections.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by darkfeline on Thursday July 02 2020, @03:37AM
No, the surprising thing is that it passed unanimously. Usually, there's a single dissenting vote to give the impression of democracy; someone is selected beforehand to "represent opposing opinions". I guess they gave up trying to pretend.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2020, @08:56AM
China has a history of draining the bank accounts and disappearing people who do not have sufficient social standing