New Hong Kong, New Compromises : The Side Effect of 2020’s National Security Law
Zainab Aaliyah, Volunteer - EngagePolitica
In 2020, Hong Kong was inexorably transformed when China introduced the controversial National Security Law (NSL). The law was created in response to the massive protests that erupted in Hong Kong the year before to criminalize 4 ranges of crimes in relation to secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign organizations. Ergo, any open speech, verbal promotion or intention of Hong Kong’s secession from China is due a maximum sentence of life in prison. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue that the law is essential for maintaining stability, denying that it has weakened Hong Kong's autonomy. However, critics have called it "the end of Hong Kong," asserting that the NSL has created a pervasive climate of fear in the once vibrant city.
Mount Zero, an adored independent bookstore, closed its doors on 31 March 2024. The bookstore was known for its slogan “Ideas are bulletproof” from the film ‘V for Vendetta’, which had become a cultural lodestar during the pro-democracy protests of 2019 and 2020. The store's closure, attributed to repeated inspections from authorities, stresses the chilling effect of the NSL on free expression and the city’s shrinking space for dissent.
The NSL law also includes provisions that allow Hong Kong to send certain cases to be tried in mainland China, establish a national security commission with a Beijing-appointed adviser, and give Beijing the power to interpret the law over Hong Kong's judicial bodies. Trials under the NSL can be held behind closed doors, and those suspected of breaking the law can be subjected to wiretapping and surveillance. The law also strengthens the management of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and news agencies and allows for fines against companies convicted under its provisions.
Since the NSL's introduction, Hong Kong has seen the arrests of numerous protesters, activists, and former opposition lawmakers. In July 2023, authorities reported that about 260 people had been arrested, with 79 charged under the law. The most significant case to date involves the Hong Kong 47, a group of pro-democracy figures, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai and activist Joshua Wong, who are on trial for "subversion" related to their involvement in organizing an unofficial legislative council election primary. The NSL's indomitable effect on the media landscape is evident in the closure of several pro-democracy news outlets, including Lai's ‘Apple Daily’, reputed for its critical stance against mainland Chinese leadership.
The law has also prompted tens of thousands of Hongkongers to leave the city, many of whom have resettled in the United Kingdom under a special visa program introduced by the British government. However, the NSL's reach extends beyond Hong Kong's borders, with the police issuing arrest warrants and offering bounties for activists now overseas, such as Nathan Law.
The origins of the NSL can be traced back to Hong Kong's handover from British to Chinese control in 1997 under the "one country, two systems" principle, which was meant to protect the city's autonomy. The Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, promised freedoms like speech, and an independent judiciary—rights unheard of in mainland China. However, in 2019, Beijing proposed an extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent to China for trial, instigating widespread protests and giving rise to a broader anti-China, pro-democracy movement. In response, Beijing introduced the NSL, bypassing Hong Kong's parliament and, critics argue, breaching the "one country, two systems" agreement.
The impact of the NSL has been profound. The law's enactment has been condemned as a breach of international commitments by many foreign governments, including the UK.
- UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that the NSL's "continued existence and use is a demonstration of China breaking its international commitments" and that it has "significantly eroded" rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.
Despite these various criticisms, Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain that the NSL ensures the "resolute, full, and faithful implementation" of "one country, two systems." Yet, for many in Hong Kong, the NSL represents not stability but the systematically premeditated dismantling of the freedom that once defined their vibrant city.
The closure of Mount Zero and the trials of pro-democracy figures like the Hong Kong 47 underscore the rapid transformation of Hong Kong from a city of brisk discourse one where fear and repression reign. As veteran pro-democracy politician Emily Lau poignantly observes, "Most people here accept that we are part of China. They’re not going to use violence to overthrow the government, but they would like the freedom to express their views … like they have been doing for decades."
As Hongkongers manage their new status quo, the question looms large: what does the future hold for a city that was once a beacon of freedom in Asia but now faces the closing doors of its civil society? The uncertainty captured in Mount Zero's final Instagram post—
“People came one after another, a few young people asking each other, what exactly are we going to do? No one knew the specific answer.”
About the author
Zainab is a student residing in the UAE who enjoys spending her time in art, reading, and researching about various psychological perspectives. She hopes to earn a career in the field of Psychology or Neuroscience.
Resources :-
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52765838
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Hong_Kong_national_security_law#:~:text=A%20national%20security%20law%20would,criminal%20secret%20societies%20and%20triads.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/12/hong-kong-national-security-law-2020-impacts