Taking the biscuit, Britain or China?

China has drawn international condemnation for passing a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong, says the Financial Times,days ago.

Although nominally designated to protect the national security of Hong Kong, reporters state it may increase Beijing's grip on the territory. 

Hong Kong had a higher degree of autonomy under the the deal of handover from Britain to China in 1997, the new rules embodied in the new law seems to have an effect at least for the immediate present, with small groups of protesters supporting Hong Kong independence getting the message and immediately throwing in their towel into the ring to dissolve rather than risk being officially broken up by the authorities.

To many western observers, the new law which has come into force in Hong Kong without even being ratified in the territory, means China has buried "the idea of one country, two systems".                                           

Vandalism in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has had seven straight months of protests starting in June 2019 sparked by an eventually abandoned plan to allow extradition to China mainland.These pro democracy protests and unlawful demonstrations have buffeted Hong Kong for too long that it had become necessary to maintain law and order in the territory.

Will the new law which came into force at 11.00 p.m local time on 30 June 2020 stifle criticism of Beijing or will it bring law and order to Hong Kong?

The National Security law was primarily aimed at vandalism against government buildings, public transport and disruption of the economy. China insists that it is necessary to maintain order and rightly aimed at criminals who want to destroy the life of ordinary citizens and to destroy the economy of Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive,Carrie Lam strongly endorsed the new law in her speech marking the 23rd anniversary of handover on 1 July 1997. She said that the decision was necessary to maintain Hong Kong's stability. 

Britain called it a "clear and serious violation" of the treaty which led to the 1997 handover.

Britain has gone further in interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong although it had handed over power to China and  relinquished its control by stating it was willing "to provide a pathway to citizenship" for millions of Hong Kong residents. It offered 3 million residents of the former colony right to settle in the United Kingdom after the imposition of the security law. Is it a new form of "colonialism"? 

China has raised the prospect of preventing Hong Kong citizens taking up British residency,

as with a total Hong Kong population of just over 7 million, only two million took to the streets on 16 June 2019 in protest and vandalism.

                                       

 

Will the security law be used to stifle criticism of Beijing?

China has every right to urge the international community to respect its right to safeguard

national security, stability and harmony for the majority of the people of Hong Kong.

But analysts continue to maintain the security law radically restricts the relationship between Beijing and Hong Kong.

Law and order has to be maintained in Hong Kong.Only time will tell is this new security measure will restore business confidence after more than a year of turmoil and historic unease in the territory belonging to China.

Victor Cherubim