It is a new turn of the screw from Beijing against Hong Kong. According to the text of a controversial security bill, prepared by the Chinese Parliament and disseminated on Saturday June 20 by the news agency China New, Beijing plans to establish a "national security organ" in Hong Kong.

The body is said to be responsible for collecting intelligence and dealing with crimes against national security, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Furthermore, it will be established and chaired by the Hong Kong chief executive. It is currently Carrie Lam, denounced by her opponents as a puppet from Beijing, who occupies this position.

Presented by Beijing as aiming to combat separatist activities, subversive activities, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, the security bill is of utmost concern to pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.

>> Read: "China knows it is strong enough to do what it wants with Hong Kong"

They fear that this law will crush freedoms, considered essential to the status of Hong Kong, an important global financial center.

The text also provides that the law in preparation takes precedence over those of the former British colony.

A project "soon" finalized

Following last year's monster protests against Beijing's influence, President Xi Jinping's regime announced last month a national security law in Hong Kong, seen by local Democratic opposition as a way to reduce it to silence.

The principle of this law had been adopted at the end of May by the annual plenary session of the National People's Congress (ANP, the Chinese Parliament), giving rise to new demonstrations in Hong Kong which were severely repressed.

No date has been provided for the adoption of the text but new China said the project would be "soon" finalized.

In a statement, the G7 powers this week called on Beijing to reconsider the project, an appeal rejected "firmly" on Thursday by the Chinese government.

With AFP and Reuters

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