Hong Kong lawmaker call China's national security law 'evil'

Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators spoke out against China's new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.Sitting in a cramped room borrowed from a teachers' union, the small group of lawmakers took turns on Wednesday criticizing the law and emphasized concern about what it means for freedom for people in Hong Kong.

Claudia Mo of HK First said that Chinese Communist Party authorities just want to impose their will on Hong Kong, a former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997.

Moderate Fernando Cheung described the law as "evil" - many opponents in Hong Kong use this phrase to express their dissent.

China's national security law in Hong Kong further blurs the distinction between the legal systems of the mainland's authoritarian Communist Party system and semi-autonomous Hong Kong, which maintained aspects of British law under a promised "one country, two systems" principle.

Critics say the law effectively ends the "one country, two systems" framework under which Hong Kong was promised a higher degree of autonomy than in mainland China for 50 years.

Under the law, those found guilty of inciting secessionist, subversive, terrorist activities and colluding with foreign forces could face life imprisonment if they are deemed masterminds of such activities.