Responding to the passing of Hong Kong\u2019s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23), Amnesty International\u2019s China director Sarah Brooks said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith this draconian legislation, the Hong Kong government has delivered another crushing blow to human rights in the city. The authorities have enacted this law in the blink of an eye, killing off any remaining shred of hope that public outcry could counter its most destructive elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe passing of this law sends the clearest message yet that the Hong Kong authorities\u2019 hunger to accommodate Beijing\u2019s will outstrips any past commitments on human rights. The government has ignored ever-more urgent warnings from UN human rights experts that its approach to national security legislation is incompatible with Hong Kong\u2019s international obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbove all, this is a devastating moment for the people of Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of whom have previously marched through the streets to demonstrate against repressive laws, including an incarnation of this one in 2003. Today they lost another piece of their freedom \u2013 any act of peaceful protest is now more dangerous than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has never been more important for organizations such as Amnesty International to stand with those Hongkongers who continue to risk their freedom simply by exercising their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe urge all those who can wield influence in Hong Kong \u2013 from governments and businesses to the UN and the EU \u2013 not to neglect Hongkongers in their hour of need, but instead to ramp up pressure on the territory\u2019s authorities to respect human rights and repeal all laws that violate them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hong Kong\u2019s Legislative Council (LegCo) today unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong\u2019s mini-constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Article 23 of the Basic Law requires the government to pass local laws to prohibit seven offences: treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People\u2019s Government, theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the territory, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the territory from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n