China tries to impose security law in Hong Kong for greater control

China's legislature will take over long-stalled efforts to enact national security legislation in Hong Kong, a move that could limit opposition activity in semi-automous territory and signals central government's determination to take greater control after months of pro-democracy protests last year.

National People's Congress (NPC), which started a one-week annual session on Friday, has delivered a bill on "establishing and improving legal system and enforcement mechanisms for Hong Kong Special ministrative Region to safeguard national security."

While presenting bill to delegates, Wang Chen, Vice Chairman of China's NPC, said protests and violence in Hong Kong h seriously challenged bottom line of 'One Country, Two Systems' principle, undermined rule of law, and threatened national sovereignty, security and development interests.

"Strong measures have to be taken according to law to prevent, stop and punish m," Wang said.

anuncement drew sharp criticism from US, which has threatened to withdraw preferential tre status for Hong Kong, and seems likely to prompt more protests in short term.

Such a move has long been under consideration and was hastened by months of anti-government protests last year in former British colony that was returned to China rule in 1997.

Hong Kong's government is bound by Article 23 of Basic Law, its constitution, to enact laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against China.

It proposed legislation to do so in 2003, but withdrew it after hundreds of thousands of people came out to protest.

Beijing has increasingly pushed for measures such as punishment for disrespecting Chinese national flag and anm and increased pro-China patriotic-med education in schools, but opposition in Hong Kong's Legislative Council makes it unlikely a national security bill could pass at local level.

w, China appears to be sidestepping Hong Kong's lawmaking body to enact legislation.

"In light of current situation of Hong Kong, we must establish and improve at state level legal system and enforcement mechanisms for Hong Kong Special ministrative Region to safeguard national security, so as to change long lasting situation of defenceless in national security affair in Hong Kong," Wang said.

In Washington, where President Donald Trump and his top national security officials have been increasingly critical of China for both its response to coronavirus pandemic and actions in Hong Kong, State Department said such a move would "undermine People's Republic of China's commitments and obligations in Si-British Joint Declaration."

A vote at NPC will d to concerns in Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp that Beijing is chipping away at territory's rights to assembly and free speech that greatly exceed those permitted by ruling Communist Party in mainland China.

"Our aim is to effectively prevent, stop and punish any behaviour in Hong Kong that poses a serious threat to national security with attempts of splitting country, overthrowing state regime, organising and conducting terrorist attacks and activities of foreign nations and overseas forces to interfere in affairs of Hong Kong Special ministrative Region," Wang said.