Hong Kong will develop its own national security law in 2024, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced during his annual policy speech. The move comes four years after Beijing imposed a repressive law to suppress dissent in the Chinese special administrative region. In his speech, John Lee said Hong Kong will continue to safeguard its national security and improve its legal system to deal with external interference and uphold its constitutional duty.
The 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong highlighted the people’s desire for more freedom and autonomy from mainland China. In response to these protests, China imposed a national security law that cracks down on secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. This law had the effect of silencing dissenting voices, with activists arrested and sent abroad.
According to the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the special administrative region has the obligation to develop its own security legislation. However, this responsibility has not yet been fulfilled, more than 25 years after Hong Kong’s handover to China. In 2003, an attempt to develop a national security law was abandoned after massive demonstrations by the population.
The new national security law planned for 2024 will therefore be a crucial issue for Hong Kong, which seeks to reconcile the preservation of national security with respect for individual freedoms and the autonomy of the region. John Lee also announced the establishment of a task force to promote patriotic education to strengthen Hong Kong’s national identity. This announcement follows China’s adoption of a law aimed at strengthening patriotic education for children and families.
It remains to be seen how this new national security law will be received by the Hong Kong population and the international community. Some fear this will mean another step in the suppression of Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy, while others argue it will help ensure stability and security in the region. The debate around the balance between national security and individual freedoms will therefore continue to drive discussions in Hong Kong in the years to come.