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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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2020, @01:09AM (5 children)
Not a good sign.
What was the time from new law signed to troops on the street enforcing it?
Seems impressively quick for a though out response.
More like children acting out of impatience or fear.
Patience has historically been a strength of China.
Have they lost that strength, or are they afraid of HK freedom catching on in the rest of the China?
It doesn't make sense that they are just taking out of greed because HK won't be worth much after this.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday July 02 2020, @01:27AM (1 child)
It could be hubris, or it could just be their strength blossoming. They don't need to use patience anymore because there's almost no consequences.
Even if Hong Kong evaporates, that's just about 2.7% of their GDP. But it can probably continue to chug along after this, with some businesses and skilled individuals fleeing.
Whether or not it is a "good" move will be difficult to determine until years or decades later. The PRC could last another 100 years, or maybe only 10 years.
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(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday July 02 2020, @02:14AM
Sounds like the California approach. Hopefully, China will replace the current clowns with someone who has a better interest in the future of their country.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday July 02 2020, @02:11AM
What patience? As noted, they merely had to wait till 2050. No need to rush.
This is not the first time [soylentnews.org] China has been accused without evidence of having competence at the long game.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Thursday July 02 2020, @02:14AM (1 child)
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/01/chinas-national-security-law-hong-kong-global-financial-center.html [cnbc.com]
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 04 2020, @08:52PM
The problem for Hong Kong is many of their low end workers aren't good in either Mandarin or English. Their mother tongue is Cantonese.
At high end they have some foreign "expats" or tycoons. At the mid end, they have competition from Singaporeans and other overseas Chinese who have better command of Mandarin and/or English.
At lower end they have competition from the cheaper workers in China.
Their "value add" is dropping. And their livelihoods and lifestyles along with it. So the HK protests might be fueled partly by such embers.