The organization Reporters Without Borders has warned of dangers for journalists worldwide through the new „Law for the Protection of National Security in Hong Kong“. „It gives the Beijing regime the tool to harass and punish journalists in Hong Kong under the appearance of legality,“ said Cedric Alviani, the organization’s East Asia chief.
It also allows China to threaten and intimidate media professionals abroad with imprisonment. The „grotesque regulations“ in the law that came into effect yesterday are completely vague and open to arbitrary interpretations.
The organization urged governments worldwide to take action against Beijing. It must be prevented that the freedom of the press is suffocated in Hong Kong and a „new world media order“ created according to Chinese wishes. The new law could be used against any journalist who writes about Hong Kong, regardless of whether he is based in the Chinese Special Administrative Region or elsewhere. It also allows legal proceedings in China.
Punishment for striving for independence
The new security law came into force on the 23rd anniversary of the return of the former British Crown Colony to China in 1997. It is directed against „secession“ and „undermining national unification“.
Efforts are being made to strive for independence from the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong or other areas that Beijing regards as part of the People’s Republic – including the separated Taiwan and the autonomous areas of Tibet and Xinjiang.
It also punishes „undermining state power“, which is already interpreted very widely in the People’s Republic in dealing with civil rights activists – for example, when central power is challenged with demands for democracy. It also opposes terrorism and „collusion“ with forces abroad that are hostile to China and Hong Kong from Beijing’s perspective.
Australia is considering special visas
Meanwhile, the Australian government is considering issuing special visas to Hong Kong citizens who may be at risk from the new law. The situation in the Chinese special administrative region is „very worrying,“ said Prime Minister Scott Morrison. His government is „very actively“ thinking about ways to protect Hong Kong.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced that up to three million Hong Kong residents would be naturalized.
Relations between Australia and its main economic partner, China, are currently strained – especially since the government in Canberra requested an independent international investigation into the origin of the corona virus in China. Beijing has accused Australia of spying and has warned Chinese students and tourists against traveling to the country.
