The new National Security Act was voted unanimously on Tuesday morning by the 162 members of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, media reports in Hong Kong.

Critics fear that the Security Act means restricted rights for residents in the special administrative region and that its autonomy, democracy and financial center status are threatened.

Lamb does not comment

The Beijing regime, for its part, says the law is needed for stability in Hong Kong to return after last year's major protests.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has chosen not to comment on the new rules yet, as the Beijing meeting is still ongoing.

"It would be inappropriate for me to answer some questions and explain the law at this stage," she says at a press conference.

Content unknown

Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents have not yet been told the exact content of the law. The details, and how the law is to be used, have not been made public, but the Beijing regime has previously said that the law focuses on rioting and terrorism.

During the year, there has been news from China that protesters in Hong Kong have dedicated themselves to "terrorism". At the same time, both Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have also said that the law will only target a small number of troublemakers.

A source tells the South China Morning Post that Hong Kong's government will meet representatives of the Beijing regime in the afternoon to be informed of the law. The provisions will then come into force on Wednesday.

Big protests

The law is believed to mean the most radical change for Hong Kong residents since the former British colony was returned to China 23 years ago. New national security offices are expected in Hong Kong, which will monitor, guide and support local authorities in compliance with the rules.

The bill has recently caused democracy protests to take off in Hong Kong. At the same time, both the United States, the United Kingdom and the EU have explicitly condemned China's plans to introduce the law.

Already on Monday, the United States began to phase out its special trade status with Hong Kong by stopping military equipment exports and restricting the region's access to high-tech US products.