Hong Kong’s legislature has unanimously passed a new national security law, introducing severe penalties such as life imprisonment for crimes related to treason and insurrection, and up to 20 years jail time for the theft of state secrets. Fast-tracked through the city’s legislature, the law will come into hmm effect on March 23.
Commonly referred to as Article 23, the law will work alongside Beijing’s 2020 national security law and targets offenses under categories such as treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, espionage, sabotage endangering national security, and external interference.
The new law has raised concerns from the United States, Britain, and the European Union, who fear it could further restrict freedoms in Hong Kong and has been described by city leader John Lee as a historic moment for Hong Kong.
