HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong unveiled a proposed law that threatens life imprisonment for residents who “endanger national security' on Friday, deepening worries about erosion of the city’s freedoms four years after Beijing imposed a similar law that a
HONG KONG — Hong Kong unveiled a proposed law that threatens life imprisonment for residents who “endanger national security" on Friday, deepening worries about erosion of the city’s freedoms four years after Beijing imposed a similar law that all but wiped out public dissent.
The law would jail people who damage public infrastructure with the intent to endanger national security for 20 years — or life, if they collude with an external force to do so. In 2019, protesters occupied the airport and vandalized railway stations. The European Union said the bill covers “an even wider range” of offenses than previously disclosed, including sweeping bans on external interference and significantly hardened provisions on sentencing.
The legislature's president, Andrew Leung, told reporters that the process was accelerated because the bill was necessary to safeguard national security. Such protests against the current bill are unlikely, due to the chilling effect of the 2020 law after it was enacted to quell the 2019 protests. The bill, if passed as tabled, is likely to have chilling effect on local civil society, Burns said, especially political and public policy lobby groups that have benefited from connections to overseas counterparts.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Second diaspora group pulls out of foreign-interference inquiryCanadian Friends of Hong Kong raises concerns about investigation’s objectivity and security
Read more »
Free Live Stream: ONE Friday Fights 52 ‘Kulabdam vs. Lobo’Prepare for a fireworks display of high-octane entertainment at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok as ONE Friday Fights 52 is set to unfold on Feb. 16.
Read more »
Major snow storm hits Eastern Newfoundland; expected to last until FridayA prolonged, major snowstorm has already hit Eastern Newfoundland, with almost 15 centimeters down in some parts of the region. Schools and post-secondary institutions are closed, government offices are not open, and many flights have been cancelled.
Read more »
Valentine’s Day storm brings heavy snow, high winds into early FridaySnow spreads across the Island overnight and will continue through late Thursday or early Friday over much of the Island and through much of the weekend in coastal Labrador. This is because of a slow-moving Nor&8217;Easter. The storm is currently located off the coast of New England.
Read more »
Friday Bantering: Jays sign Eduardo EscobarWe made it to the end of another week. The Jays have signed Eduardo Escobar to a minor league contract. Escobar is a 35-year-old, switch-hitting utility infielder, and the Jays want to corner the...
Read more »
Free HD Replay: ONE Friday Fights 52 ‘Kulabdam vs. Lobo’With the successful conclusion of ONE Friday Fights 52, relive all of the adrenaline-fueled action with an HD replay now available on Sherdog.com
Read more »