Updated June 29, 2020, 7:12 a.m.
Hong Kong has been demonstrating for more democracy for a year. With a security law Beijing strengthens the grip on its special administrative region. Critics warn of an escalation.
The plans of the Chinese leadership for a national security protection law Hongkong encounter sharp criticism. Before Monday or Tuesday in Peking The expected passage of the bill by the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress warned Gyde Jensen, the chairman of the human rights committee of the German Bundestag, that the freedom of liberty of the seven million Hong Kongers would be restricted and that the protests would escalate. The FDP politician called for sanctions from Germany and the EU if the law was passed as planned.
“The security law will also become the last coffin nail economically, because you can no longer be sure whether Beijing may not be able to comply with other contracts,” said Jensen of the German Press Agency. The Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post” reported Monday from the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Parliament, which started in Beijing on Sunday, that the law could even impose a life sentence as a maximum sentence.
Activist Wong: Fear of immediate arrest
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong expressed fears on Twitter that he and critical publisher Jimmy Lai could be arrested immediately after the law was passed. He pointed out the possibility that the law would allow suspects to be transferred to mainland China, where arbitrary detention, secret trials, or confessions forced by torture were at risk. “While Hong Kong is on the verge of collapse, I call on the world to do more to push China to withdraw the law.”
The exact text of the law has so far been kept secret. It targets activities that Beijing regards as subversive, terrorist, or might target Hong Kong’s independence. It is also said to punish “secret agreements” with forces abroad. The pro-democratic opposition fears that it will become the goal of the law. For a year now there have been repeated demonstrations in Hong Kong, which above all called for more democratic participation. Protests against the law again arrested more than 50 people on Sunday.
“I’m worried about the activists and this whole generation, who is just seeing their freedom going down the drain,” said Jensen. But also German companies or political foundations operating in the Chinese special administrative region Germany are in danger. “We do not know in which direction this can go – whether procedures will be tackled afterwards,” said the FDP politician. “The far-reaching consequences that cannot be predicted make the law so dangerous.”
Critics fear end of “one country, two systems” principle
Critics fear an end to the “one country, two systems” principle that the former British crown colony has been in since 1997 China is governed. The Communist leadership in Beijing circumvents the Hong Kong parliament with the law, which is to be included as an annex to the Basic Law of the Autonomous Territory. From Germany’s perspective and from the other six members of the group of large industrialized nations (G7), Beijing’s plans are not in line with Hong Kong law and Beijing’s obligation under the Sino-British agreement to return Hong Kong.
If the law is passed, the EU-China summit postponed due to the corona crisis, but still planned, must be canceled under the German EU Council Presidency, Jensen demanded. There must be sanctions against China at the German or better still at the European level. Travel restrictions or freezing individual accounts associated with human rights violations would be useful.
The FDP politician asked Berlin to come up with harsher words than Beijing: “China is only responding to pressure, and what the Federal Government is currently saying is, I think, a sign of poverty.” The law is expected to come into force this Wednesday. On July 1, Hong Kong’s return to China marks its 23rd anniversary. There are traditionally large demonstrations on the anniversary. However, referring to the corona pandemic and the “ongoing social unrest”, the police have banned protest marches – for the first time in 17 years. (mgb / dpa)
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