Hong Kong’s Chief Muskulates Over New Security Law—Promise, Promise
Ben Sort – In a calm, almost breezy TV address this Tuesday, Carrie Lam told folks that Beijing’s fire‑starter “national security bill” won’t burn down Hong Kong’s right‑to‑be‑you freedoms. That’s the gist of it: chin‑wag? Not at all, she says.
Why the Chatter Is So Loud
Since the proposal rolled out, the capital’s top brass has turned into a chorus‑line of “All’s well.” Lam, joined by former leaders and back‑benchers, has been “taking the hot seat” on the weekly press briefings, all in a bid to soothe anxious citizens, investors, and diplomats.
Key Take‑away
- “There’s no need to freak out” – Lam’s repeated mantra.
- “Free Speech is a Hong‑Kong thing” – she points to 23 years of practice, not a printout.”
- “See the bill to understand the need”—she encourages a watch‑and‑cheer approach.
What the Draft Says
The draft, last week’s share, wants to stab down secession, subversion, and terrorist acts. However, no explanation is provided on why or how these policy steps keep Hong Kong’s sweet spot of liberty intact.
Some of the critics postulate that, with the law in place, a foreign “spy‑team” could set up their own offices in the city—after all, it’s one of the world’s biggest financial hubs. The added worry is more “what’s‑next” than “how.”
Possible Future Scenarios
- Legislature sits on a couch forever and just says “yeah.”
- Corporate lawyers hunt for loopholes to keep Netflix‐style creativity alive.
- Diplomats do their best to keep the city open to the world—don’t spill the tea.
In a nutshell, Carrie Lam says, “If you’re still worried, stay tuned and read the official documents.” The hope is that the law will make sense soon, just like a new chapter in a book you find semi‑interesting but still want to finish. As for the citizens, the message is easy: keep swimming, stay calm, and that may finally be the secret recipe for not losing any more freedoms.
More protests
Thousands poured onto the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday in a mass protest against the laws. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd and arrested almost 200 people.
It was the first major protest since pro-democracy demonstrations rocked Hong Kong last year over an unsuccessful plan to introduce an extradition law with China. The unrest plunged the former British colony into its worst crisis since its return to Chinese rule in 1997.
More protests are expected in Hong Kong on Wednesday, against both national security laws and a bill due for a second reading in the city’s legislature that would criminalise abuse of China’s national anthem.
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As many Hong Kong people fret about national security laws, demand for virtual private networks surged six-fold last Thursday, the day the plans were unveiled.
The United States, Britain, the European Union and others expressed concerns about the laws and Washington warned Hong Kong could lose the preferential treatment that makes it a vibrant interface between communist China and the West.
Investors’ concerns were evidenced in a sell-off on the Hong Kong bourse on Friday, though stocks regained some ground this week, with analysts pointing to global factors rather than the flurry of recent statements.
“Medium-to-long term it will still depend on U.S.-China relations and the political situation in Hong Kong,” said Steven Leung, executive director for institutional sales at brokerage UOB Kay Hian.
Garrison support
The commander of China’s military Hong Kong garrison said in a rare interview that the garrison firmly supported the new legislation. Chen Daoxiang told Chinese state television the garrison had the determination and ability to safeguard national sovereignty and the city’s long-term prosperity and security.
The garrison did not confront protesters last year.
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Hong Kong is governed under a “one country, two systems” formula that guarantees it a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not seen in mainland China, including freedom of expression and the right to protest.
Beijing and local officials have toughened their rhetoric recently, describing some of the acts in the protests as “terrorism” and attempts of “secessionism,” remarks echoed by Lam on Tuesday.
Protests turned increasingly violent last year.
While authorities scrapped the bill that sparked the unrest, they dug in their heels against calls for universal suffrage, amnesty for those arrested, an independent inquiry against police’s handling of the demonstrations and a request not to label the protests as riots.
Opinion polls show only a minority of Hong Kong people support independence, which is anathema to Beijing.
Hong KongHong Kong protestschina
