Expert: "China can buy silence"

Paragraph 38 of the new Security Act can be interpreted as the fact that even foreign nationals who criticize China can be arrested with reference to the law as soon as they set foot in Hong Kong - and also when transferring at Hong Kong airport, CNN reports today.

Niklas Swanström describes China's new security law in Hong Kong as "very far-reaching" and says that he also interprets the writing of the law in this way.

- The main purpose is Hong Kong residents and Chinese citizens, at the same time you had to have foreign citizens in mind, otherwise the law would have been written in a different way. I can't imagine that the Chinese lawyers have missed this interpretation, he says.

How likely is it that China will apply this law to foreign nationals? 

- That's the question. But only the possibility exists is what is the problem. You can buy yourself silence, and that you become more careful about what you say, and maybe that's what China wants to achieve with this law.

The Security Act has been criticized for being sweeping and general in its formulations. For example, it is still unclear what counts as subversive activity, terrorism, separatism or intercourse with foreign forces - something that is now punishable by up to life imprisonment.

- Is it enough with a hashtag or something to burn? In this situation it is very difficult to say that this is included and this is not included in the law, says Niklas Swanström.

You yourself have criticized China, would you feel comfortable switching flights in Hong Kong?

- Absolutely not. I will avoid traveling to China before getting a better picture of this legislation.