uly 1 (Reuters) - China imposed a sweeping national security law on

Hong Kong in June 2020 that punishes what authorities broadly

refer to as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with
foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Government officials in Beijing and Hong Kong said the law would
target only a small number of "troublemakers" who threaten national
security, and that the rights and freedoms of ordinary Hong Kong
people would be protected.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Report an ad

Police have arrested more than 100 people under the security law
since it was imposed.

Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Register now

Critics say it is being used to crush dissent in the global financial

hub, an assertion Beijing rejects.

HOW FAR DOES THE LAW GO?

The reach of the law has stunned some diplomats, lawyers, activists
and legal scholars. The legislation provides for more active state
management and oversight of foreign groups, organisations and
media based in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has been
China's freest and most international city.

The law stipulates that mainland agents, who are now officially
based in the city for the first time, cannot be detained or inspected
by local authorities while carrying out their duties.

Most defendants have been denied bail and one was denied trial by
jury. read more

It also allows Hong Kong's chief executive to appoint judges for

national security cases - a move lawyers' groups have said imperils
the city's rule-of-law traditions.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Report an ad

The legislation also allows mainland courts to hear serious and

complex Hong Kong cases in certain situations, including those
allegedly involving collusion with foreign forces - a significant
change that has alarmed lculated at "about 0.0016%".

"We would like to emphasise that any law enforcement actions ...are
based on evidence, strictly according to the law," a spokesman for
the bureau said.

The actions had "nothing to do with their political stance,

background or profession," he said.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

In a city that has had strong media, artistic and religious traditions
that are protected to a falculated at "about 0.0016%".
"We would like to emphasise that any law enforcement actions ...are
based on evidence, strictly according to the law," a spokesman for
the bureau said.dbf v clculated at "about 0.0016%".

"We would like to emphasise that any law enforcement actions ...are
based on evidence, strictly according to the law," a spokesman for
the bureau said.

The actions had "nothing to do with their political stance,

background or profession," he said.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

In a city that has had strong media, artistic and religious traditions
that are protected to a far greater degree than those on the
Communist Party-ruled mainland, many are concerned the law will
increasingly crush those freedoms.

Scrutiny is also intensifying over Hong Kong's vaunted judiciary and

rule of law, long seen

lculated at "about 0.0016%".

"We would like to emphasise that any law enforcement actions ...are
based on evidence, strictly according to the law," a spokesman for
the bureau said.

The actions had "nothing to do with their political stance,

background or profession," he said.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

In a city that has had strong media, artistic and religious traditions
that are protected to a far greater degree than those on the
Communist Party-ruled mainland, many are concerned the law will
increasingly crush those freedoms.
Scrutiny is also intensifying over Hong Kong's vaunted judiciary and
rule of law, long seen

The actions had "nothing to do with their political stance,

background or profession," he said.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

In a city that has had strong media, artistic and religious traditions
that are protected to a far greater degree than those on the
Communist Party-ruled mainland, many are concerned the law will
increasingly crush those freedoms.

Scrutiny is also intensifying over Hong Kong's vaunted judiciary and

rule of law, long seen

r greater degree than those on the Communist Party-ruled

mainland, many are concerned the law will increasingly crush those
freedoms.

Scrutiny is also intensifying over Hong Kong's vaunted judiciary and

rule of law, long seen

in the city.

Under the law, any Hong Kong residents running for election or
working for the government must swear allegiance to the city and its
mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT?

More than 100 people have been arrested under the national
security law, with high-profile democracy and independence
activists among the first to be detained.
A dozen pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from running
in a since-postponed election last September, with authorities citing
reasons such as collusion with foreign forces and opposition to the
law.

Some diplomats, activists and human rights groups have expressed

deepening concerns over the erosio

lculated at "about 0.0016%".

"We would like to emphasise that any law enforcement actions ...are
based on evidence,

those on the Communist Party-ruled mainland, many are concerned

the law will increasingly crush those freedoms.

Scrutiny is also intensifying over Hong Kong's vaunted judiciary and

rule of law, long seen