Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously pass new national security law

Hong Kong lawmakers on March 19 unanimously passed a new national security Bill within a fortnight of it first being tabled, fast-tracking a major piece of legislation that critics say further threatens the city’s freedoms.

The package, known as Article 23, punishes offences including treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets and espionage with sentences ranging from several years to life imprisonment.

The city’s Chief Executive John Lee said the law would come into effect on March 23 and called it a “historic moment for Hong Kong”.

This new slate of laws comes on top of an earlier, China-imposed national security law that had already triggered sanctions from the United States, including against Mr Lee.

Some lawmakers, however, shrugged off the risk of further sanctions and possible credit rating downgrades.

“We have to legislate for the security of our country and Hong Kong. Whatever comes, will come. We don’t mind,” said the head of the legislature, Mr Andrew Leung.

Hong Kong’s legislative council, stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists, was first presented with the Bill on March 8, following a month-long public consultation.