The head of the Hong Kong executive confirmed on Tuesday January 30 his intention to shortly adopt new national security laws intended to strengthen the legislation imposed in 2020 by China in the special administrative region, believing that this was within his constitutional responsibility.
Some entrepreneurs, diplomats and academics are closely monitoring the issue, amid concerns that new safeguards against espionage and foreign influence will harm the global financial hub.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer,” said John Lee, announcing the publication today of a consultation document and the desire of the local government to have the new laws approved “as soon as possible”. “While as a society we are seemingly calm and secure, we must always be wary of potential sabotage, of undercurrents that attempt to create unrest,” he told reporters. .
The head of the Hong Kong executive assured that freedoms would be protected and that the new laws would respect international standards.
This set of measures will notably concern the protection of state secrets, treason, sedition and the use of electrical systems to harm national security, said security chief Chris Tang.
Beijing imposed a strict national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, presenting it as necessary to restore stability in the semi-autonomous territory following large protests in 2019. This text was expected to be followed by a set of additional laws.
With Reuters
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