National Security Law Sparks Press Freedom Worries

Hong Kong's National Security Law closer to promulgation

The dreaded national security law has been drafted, but "collusion" has been added to the wording that created more fear for democracy activists and lawmakers.

According to Xinhua, the law outlines crimes of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign and external forces to endanger national security, as well as lays out their penalties, but no details were given.

Originally collusion was not included in the resolution passed last month by the National People's Congress, but legal experts claim this brings the national security law in line with China's criminal laws.

Kwok worries lawmakers could be caught in law

However, pan-democrats and democracy activists are concerned how collusion will be applied in Hong Kong.

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang and legal sector representative says: "We frequently come across consuls general, foreign legislators, officials, academics, and journalists. We would talk to them about Hong Kong and they would talk to us about international affairs that are of interest to them. Are they saying that all those would be deemed as colluding with foreign forces, hence [it] would become a criminal activity going forward? That is ridiculous."

Joshua Wong Chi-fung of Demosisto says the collusion charge could force Hong Kong to further cut ties with the rest of the world and punish "all those who urge the government to uphold the city's freedoms and human rights to international standards."

It is not clear when the law will be passed, as it seems very early to pass it this weekend. The next convening of the Standing Committee is in August, but there is talk they may possibly hold a special meeting next month to pass it.

Wong (left) Hong Kong will cut ties with law

Meanwhile, journalists are extremely worried about the upcoming implementation of the law, with 98 percent of 150 surveyed are against the legislation, as they are concerned how the law will impact press freedom and their own welfare.

About 87 percent believed the new law would "seriously affect" press freedom in Hong Kong, and 92 percent were worried about their personal safety.

Chris Yeung, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association warned that journalists could fall into the scope of the national security law.

"Reporters or editors could be liable to those crimes, so those threats to us are not just psychological, but substantive in the sense that they might face those charges," he said.

Yeung also said there were concerns journalists would be worried about covering sensitive topics, comparing it to stepping on landmines.

Yeung says journalists are very worried about law

Nevertheless, despite the pessimistic outlook, only 13 percent of those surveyed said they would leave the industry when the new law came into effect.

Many are probably waiting to see what the law actually says before making up their minds.

Any way you look at it, the national security law is not reassuring...