Hong Kong has banned an important slogan by thousands of pro-democracy protesters in a few months of rallies, the latest sign that officials are using new Beijing-draft national security legislation to restrict liberty.
The Hong Kong government called it a "serious statement" late Thursday night, "Free Hong Kong!" Revolution of our time! "It is now illegal for law, terrorism, subversion of state power, and confiscation of foreign powers. The sweeping law imposed by China, which has long been a prison term, has been made public because it was in effect until late Tuesday.
The slogan was one of many people, including "Hongkongers, the creation of a country," who saw the document as a threat to national security in the guidelines issued to the police. These provisions refer to the liberties of Tibet, Taiwan, Shanghai, and East Turkestan under the law.
Before the return of the former British colony to China in 1997, the National Security Act, which guarantees "speech, freedom, press, assembly, association, procession and demonstration in Hong Kong," has already had a chilling effect on speech. Pro-democracy activists have dissolved many groups or tried to leave the city in recent years, and the US and UK have pledged to maintain the "high level of autonomy" of Beijing over 50 years.
Officials have banned banners and chants calling for "Hong Kong independence", not to mention that this ban applies more widely to "Liberate Hong Kong"! The slogan independence was never included in the five major demands of the city's historic protest movement last year, only meaningful elections.
"The slogan 'liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our time' nowadays refers to the independence of Hong Kong, or the separation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the People's Republic of China, changing the legal status of the HKSAR, or undermining state power." ., ”The government said.
The uncertainty of the meeting and vandalism, which lawyers described as "deliberately vague" - led some in Hong Kong to maintain their mobile phone chat history and social media accounts. The move is raising concerns about the self-censorship of Hong Kong economists and business analysts.
Andrew Coghlan, a political risk analyst with the Eurasian Group, said: "Until criminals are charged, it is not clear to police and the public whether their conduct actually violates the new law - and if the punishment is vulgar," Alison Sherlock wrote in a note to customers. "At this point, the authorities appear to be targeting protesters who are directly calling for freedom, while others have been arrested for violating public order."
For more information on Hong Kong's security law:
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Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested 370 people in protest of the law on the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule. Ten people have been detained under the provisions of the new National Security Act. Another officer was also arrested for allegedly stabbing a police officer.
The Communist Party's Global Times newspaper published a graphic on Friday explaining how the law changes the behavior of already famous activists. Among those identified as "Hong Kong separatists" - a life sentence imprisonment - include former student leader Joshua Wong, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, former Hong Kong general secretary Anson Chan and former legislator Martin Lee. Mini-Constitution, Basic Law.
New police guidelines have banned people from aving the "nine independence flags" used by Hong Kong protesters to show solidarity. The Hong Kong Police Force refused to discuss legal advice for his arrest under the new law.
Police said in a statement that details were not disclosed due to operational considerations. "However, enforcement action is not intended to target any flags or slogans intended for the Commission of Secularism or Vandalism to prohibit public conduct to incite and/or insult others."
Under the new security law, the first person arrested is accused of holding a "Hong Kong Independence" banner, while a second person is alleged to have wavered. A third man hoisted the flag of freedom from his motorcycle as he injured his officers, police said.
Two other women have been arrested for possessing pro-independence stickers protesting "Beijing, Liberate Hong Kong" and "One Nation, One Hong Kong." Police posted a sticker featuring a caricature cartoon-like Chinese President Xi Jinping coronavirus in a Facebook post.
Rights are limited
Hong Kong officials upheld the new law, saying it would not threaten the city's nurturing freedom and would only target small criminals who want to undermine the government.
"Hong Kong should be able to continue to enjoy the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of expression, protest and assembly," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters, adding that civil rights restrictions would allow national security to integrate internationally. "Where is it for the protection of national security? Sometimes some of these rights are restricted by law."
The Hong Kong Bar Association this week said it was "deeply concerned" about the law and its widely defined criminal offenses.
"They are designed to be a clear and comprehensive set of basic public safeguards, with broad public accessibility guidelines and clear safeguards and legal and fair treatment, which can be unilaterally and adversely interfere with fundamental rights," it said in a statement. "Prosecutors, judges, police, and Hong Kong residents are not given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the content of the new law, which includes serious criminal offenses before it takes effect."
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