Hong-Kong Protests

Taiwan is a nothing player and just a pawn in the international stage. Forget about them.
look at the debacle of their mask diplomacy and failure on WHO. The only card they can play is try for formal independence but if they are stupid enough to do that, then good luck to them.
They have no consequence on hk. All the talk about support but they hardly want the terrorists from hk themselves. Forget about them

I would suggest that they start showing movies and tv series about how HK became to be ruled by the UK made before 1997. Someone should dig out their old text books in the 70’s and 80’s and show them to the kids. They can’t call these propaganda since they were made under the British rule without influence from Beijing. Hopefully the kids will see how much they have been brainwashed.

localizer said:

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For 23 years (almost half way to the 50 year limit of the One Country Two System framework), the government of Hong Kong failed to implement the national security law as spelled out in Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law that localizer posted on #4180.

But due to the foresight of the Chinese officials who negotiated the Hong Kong Basic Law, there is another Article 18 and an Annex III that will enable China to legally implement a national security law by promulgation in Hong Kong.

See in particular the third paragraph of Article 18, reproduced below in bold type.

Article 18

The laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be this Law, the laws previously in force in Hong Kong as provided for in Article 8 of this Law, and the laws enacted by the legislature of the Region.

National laws shall not be applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region except for those listed in Annex III to this Law. The laws listed therein shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the Region.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Annex III after consulting its Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the government of the Region. Laws listed in Annex III to this Law shall be confined to those relating to defence and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the Region as specified by this Law.
In the event that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress decides to declare a state of war or, by reason of turmoil within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which endangers national unity or security and is beyond the control of the government of the Region, decides that the Region is in a state of emergency, the Central People's Government may issue an order applying the relevant national laws in the Region.

What Article 18 means is that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress can add the items listed on Article 23 to Annex III, then the Central government will issue an order to apply the relevant Chinese Law to the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.

You will never find western media telling you that China has the full right and can do all these legally and fully within the Hong Kong Basic Law.

China's overall strategy seems to be to play defensive for the short-term stability to ensure things don't get escalated and get out of hand no more than it is necessary or it already is, so as to minimize the overall downside in the climate of current heightened geopolitical tensions in order to maintain stable economic conditions as much as reasonably possible; therefore ignoring Trump and his toadies' baits to escalate further by way of slanderous public soundbites on trade and technology fronts, which come against the backdrop of a mix of COVID-19 shock and upcoming election rhetoric, while at the same time making sure her long term interests like sovereignty and national security issues , enforcing steadfast one-China policy, development of home-grown hi-tech industries, and trade independence are in good order. It seems she is determined to carry on all normal trade relations with the wider world as much as possible, including the US. As long as nobody messes with the meaty business of China's core interests, she would certainly not actively engage in theatrics and realty show business which will inevitably see upticks in pointless escalations with no real benefits; sort of keeping the powder dry to play a long game where benefits and prestige will accrue later with an order of magnitude more.

Against this backdrop, in comes the HK security and anti-sedition law.
It is worthwhile to point out China is putting her money where her mouth is, ie, she will not tolerate or flinch when it comes to sovereignty.
It means everyone else has to play this sovereignty game according to her terms. If you threw violent tantrums for a rather benign and sensible extradition bill, a harsher security and anti-sedition law will be applied in counter, with the added guarantee of Chinese security apparatus operating in HK to enforce it.
A few moving pieces here are global in dimension for this regional or rather local law and order update.
If US acts on revoking HK special trading status, not a lot of US companies doing business there on the pretense of freedom and democracy will be able to take extra earning pains when things as they are right now is pretty close to historical lows. So we'll have to wait and see US will put their money where their mouth is, or just find other face saving measures like slapping toothless sanctions that go nowhere.
The new Senate bill on Chinese IPO's and US-listings has three consecutive years time frame so effectively 4 more years for Chinese companies to figure this out. That opens up the opportunities for HK, London and other stock exchanges across the globe. Most likely main HKEX and the smaller GEM will benefit from this Senate legislation, but that will also depend on the final outcome of HK special trading status. There's a reason if we recall why China recently eased foreign companies access into investment and finance in China. So the timing is as important as the delivery itself. I believe, like DXP said, Americans will come back after a few years in weak protestation when they see how much money they were missing out on. If China managed Soviet split when she was way weaker than her current station, current US cold war moves are significantly well below the historical height of geopolitical tension levels and economic pain thresholds.

So as to underline China's long game plan to shape and guide HK's future to have her firmly locked in regional hub much sooner, and China really means it in no uncertain terms, things are already set in motion as per below report.

Will the new law allow Chinese intelligence services and PAP to legally operate or provide assistance in hong kong?

daifo said:

Will the new law allow Chinese intelligence services and PAP to legally operate or provide assistance in hong kong?

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no, unless asked by Hong Kong CE

antiterror13 said:

no, unless asked by Hong Kong CE

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So the likes of Joshua Wong are still safe?

vesicles said:

I would suggest that they start showing movies and tv series about how HK became to be ruled by the UK made before 1997. Someone should dig out their old text books in the 70’s and 80’s and show them to the kids. They can’t call these propaganda since they were made under the British rule without influence from Beijing. Hopefully the kids will see how much they have been brainwashed.

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Unfortunately it doesn't matter to these whitewash Hong Kong rioters. They've already made up their mind to fight and hate anything "Chinese Communist". As long they have the western MSM platform to promote their narrative there's nothing history can do to correct their own self hatred.

We'll have to wait and see how granular details will unfold in due time.

Plan for enforcement unit in SAR defended
Top News | 25 May 2020


Elsie Leung said Hong Kong law enforcement has no experience handling national security matters. AP, SING TAO
Maisy Mok

The former chair of the Basic Law Committee, Elsie Leung Oi-sie, defended Beijing's plans to establish an enforcement unit in Hong Kong when the national security law is legislated, saying local law enforcement has no experience in handling matters of national security.

China announced on Thursday that it plans to introduce a national security law in Hong Kong - bypassing the Legislative Council - which is expected to ban sedition, secession and subversion against Beijing. It will also enable mainland national security agencies to operate in the SAR for the first time.

Leung, founding member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said the SAR only has experience in dealing with public security issues and so it is reasonable for the central government to enable national security agencies to operate in Hong Kong.

Speaking on radio, Leung said the presence of a mainland "enforcement mechanism unit" is not to be concerned about.

"China's national security laws have stated that the state's bureaus, military, and political parties are not allowed to violate the public's rights," she said.

She said the legislation would "clearly state" the powers allocated to the police force and the central government to enforce the law, adding that she recommends the Security Bureau and police consult with the mainland on the matter.

Leung said similar enforcement mechanisms exist in foreign states, such as the FBI and the CIA in the United States and the MI5 and the MI6 in Britain.

Aside from China, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany also have existing laws against treason.

In the United States, offenders convicted of treason can face the death sentence or imprisonment for no less than five years, and fined more than US$10,000 (HK$78,000).

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, meanwhile, said if any incidents occur that threaten national security, the central government may take action upon request.

He also advocated the establishment of a domestic intelligence apparatus to safeguard national security similar to that of British Hong Kong's special branch.

In response to whether Hong Kong police will be involved in the enforcement of the national security law, Leung said it would depend on the legal provisions stated by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"It is necessary for a state-level enforcement mechanism unit to be established in Hong Kong," he said, as the city's police are not able to deal with incidents that threaten national security in the SAR.

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I wonder what the implications are for bureaucrats and those in public offices who hold foreign passports... is that technically making connections with foreign organizations?