Since 1997, Hong Kong has been under the control of the mainland Chinese government. However, this has not been a completely harmonious union. Last year, pro-democracy protesters clashed openly with mainland military forces in major confrontations. Fears that the semi-autonomous region will become as totalitarian as the mainland have been swirling for years.
Now, China has passed a controversial “national security” law that will effectively make it possible for the Chinese military to more easily stop protests. The law also bans foreign intervention, secession and “terrorism,” making it clearly aimed at preventing a formal democratization of Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, the passage of the law in the National People’s Congress has been met with disdain. Pro-democracy elements in the city have noted that the law will be bypassing the city’s own government, using a legal loophole. This rarely-used backdoor indicates to some that the mainland is aware of how unpopular the law is, and how unlikely it would be to pass the city legislature.
The law is viewed as a direct counter to the protests that occurred last year. China’s government is no stranger to protests against their totalitarian rule. However, the Hong Kong protests were unique. Since Hong Kong is more connected to the outside world, the protest gained significant traction in other countries. It’s not hard to see how this could be an embarrassment to the Chinese government.
The move received criticism internationally, as democratic governments noted that the law took away many of Hong Kong’s important freedoms. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, stated that he sees this move in a grim light. Pompeo noted that this means Hong Kong is no longer autonomous, which threatens its status as a trade hub.
He called the move “the latest in a series of actions that fundamentally undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms”. This decision is likely to harm Hong Kong’s trade relations with democratic countries, in addition to stifling its freedoms. This couldn’t come at a worse time, as much of the world still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID restrictions in the US has forced businesses to use Facebook for business marketing, revert to curbside pickup and outright change their business operations. This has all come while global events are causing instability in the markets, internationally and domestically. The sudden passage of this law is not good news for anyone, including Hong Kong itself and its trading partners.
