Latest news with #SafeguardingNationalSecurityOrdinance
American Military News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Hong Kong grows more opaque on arrests in national security cases
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. Hong Kong authorities are declining to provide details of six recent arrests under a national security law, fueling growing concerns about government transparency as it tightens controls on dissent. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said Tuesday that since the promulgation of the National Security Law in 2020, 332 individuals have been arrested. That was an increase of six arrests since Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated on June 1 that 326 people had been arrested under the law, with 165 convictions. When local media asked about the new arrests, the Security Bureau said detailed breakdowns of arrest figures are 'classified information related to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR and thus will not be made public.' HKSAR stands for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Political commentator Sampson Wong said that in the past the Hong Kong government rarely used national security as a reason to withhold information, and now the public's basic right to know was being damaged. 'At this point, reporters can still detect some of these arrests, but how long will that last? In the future, will people be arrested without anyone knowing?' Wong asked. 'Anything could be labelled a breach of confidentiality. If this continues, the truth will be completely under the control of national security authorities,' he said. The National Security Law was adopted after massive pro-democracy protests in 2019 as Beijing tightened controls over Hong Kong, which had enjoyed greater civic freedoms than mainland China and greater government transparency, including by police. China maintains the 2020 law was required to maintain order. Last month, the Hong Kong government bypassed Legislative Council procedures and unilaterally enacted two new subsidiary laws under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which significantly expanded the powers of Beijing's office overseeing national security in the city. Under the measures, it is prohibited to disclose or film the office's operations; civil servants must cooperate with and support national security operations; and any act that obstructs national security officers from performing their duties is criminalized. While it remains unclear which six arrests happened in the past two weeks, on June 2, the National Security Department arrested one man and four women for allegedly conspiring to commit terrorist activities. The suspects had reportedly used phones, emails, and messaging apps to send messages threatening to bomb central government offices and a sports park, while also promoting pro-independence messages for Taiwan and Hong Kong. On June 6, prominent democracy advocate Joshua Wong, who is already serving a four-year-and-eight-month sentence for subversion, was formally arrested on an additional charge of 'conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.' Last week, authorities also launched a national security investigation into six unnamed persons on suspicion of 'colluding with a foreign country.' But the Security Bureau clarified that no arrests had been made as yet related to that probe.
RTHK
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RTHK
'Filmmakers protected by security laws'
'Filmmakers protected by security laws' Ma Fung-kwok says movies produced in Hong Kong in recent years are of high quality. Photo: RTHK The implementation of national security laws in Hong Kong protects filmmakers instead of restricting their creativity, lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok said. Speaking on RTHK's NSL Chronicles III programme, Ma, a senior film producer and distributor, said clear regulatory requirements in the vetting regime after the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect protect filmmakers from violating the law by accident. He said movies produced in Hong Kong in recent years are of high quality. 'I don't think filmmakers' creativity is affected or restricted. Their creativity is unlimited,' Ma said. 'Filmmakers don't always have to address sensitive issues. And if they do, they should do it skilfully so they can convey their ideas without breaching the regulations or violating the law.' He also said Hong Kong is hosting many international arts and cultural events, which are not affected by the security laws.
RTHK
2 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
'Influx of foreign funds as NSL creates stability'
'Influx of foreign funds as NSL creates stability' Jeffrey Lam says the National Security Law has brought back stability and sparked a return of investments by foreign companies. Photo: RTHK Lawmaker Jeffrey Lam said more foreign funds are coming to Hong Kong as the National Security Law helps to provide a stable environment for businesses. Speaking on RTHK's NSL Chronicles III programme, Lam said the city is attracting the return of funds that were here previously, as well as new ones, with the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance offering confidence to investors. "The National Security Law is an important foundation for social stability," he said. "Why do foreigners invest in Hong Kong and why do the people of Hong Kong re-invest in Hong Kong? It is because of our political, economic and social stability. "I have also been in touch with some of the leading foreign enterprises and have been told they will implement some investment projects in Hong Kong." He said foreign businesses from Asean, the Middle East, Europe and the United States are investing in the SAR again. The businessman and vice-chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance also cited a survey carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong showing confidence among US firms in the SAR reaching a three-year high. The survey showed 83 percent of more than 500 corporate executives expressed trust in the city's rule of law, up from 79 percent last year and 73 percent in 2023.
HKFP
3 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Beijing official Xia Baolong to visit Hong Kong ahead of 5th anniversary of nat. security law
Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs will visit the city for five days this week to attend a forum marking the fifth anniversary of the national security law, Chief Executive John Lee has announced. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), will visit Hong Kong from Wednesday to Sunday, Lee said at a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, ahead of the Executive Council meeting. The main focus of Xia's visit will be to attend a national security law forum organised by the Hong Kong government on Saturday, Lee said. The Chinese official, whom Lee said 'knows Hong Kong's situation very well,' will also inspect the city's 'economic situation and social development' during his five-day visit. Lee added that he was 'very encouraged' by Xia's trip. The Hong Kong leader said the government will maintain 'close communication' with the HKMAO before announcing details of Xia's itinerary. Xia first visited Hong Kong in April 2023, during which he gave a keynote speech on the National Security Education Day. At that time, he said the city 'seems peaceful' but some 'undercurrents are still simmering,' adding that the root of the 2019 extradition bill unrest had not been eliminated. He made inspection visits to Hong Kong in February this year and last year. He visited Macau for six days last month. Lee also said on Tuesday that a total of 332 people had been arrested for national security offences since the national security law was enacted on June 30, 2020. The chief executive pointed out that on average, 66 people were apprehended under the security law each year – far lower than the average annual number of total arrests, which stood at around 30,000. 'Sixty-six out of 30,000, the percentage is 0.2. When we promulgated the national security law, we made it very clear that the law is aiming at only a small portion of people who endanger national security. This figure reinforces that clear message,' Lee said. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs. In March 2024, Hong Kong enacted its homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature.
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
'Constructive criticism not amounting to sedition'
'Constructive criticism not amounting to sedition' Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said people don't have to worry about falling foul of the SAR's sedition laws so long as their criticism is aimed at suggesting improvement to the authorities. The justice chief told the RTHK programme NSL Chronicles III that there are clear stipulations about how certain acts and comments do not constitute sedition in the home-grown national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law. "For example, when we have different opinions or criticisms about government policies, the law is clear in this regard," Lam said. "If you're expressing views with the intent of wishing the government to do better, or making so-called criticism with good intentions, the law states in black and white that these do not amount to [the crime of] seditious intention." Lam said according to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, it is also legal to suggest improvement to the legal or political system as well as the constitutional order, so long as there's no intent to incite hatred or contempt. On the other hand, Lam explained how people may violate seditious laws under Article 23 even if they don't intend to incite violence. He noted there had been instances where some comments "could harm the public's views towards the government", causing hatred or enmity, even if they don't specifically ask people to take up arms to confront the SAR government.
