1/ [Could you give a brief assessment?]
1.1/ The new National Security Law in HK will kill future democratic movements, since all pro-democracy protests in the city can be classified as attempts of subversions of China's authority, just like how the Beijing does in China.
1.1/ The new National Security Law in HK will kill future democratic movements, since all pro-democracy protests in the city can be classified as attempts of subversions of China's authority, just like how the Beijing does in China.
1.2/ More worryingly, Beijing plans to set up a national security agency to enforce the law in the city. This new secret police body will probably supersede HKGov & police forces and launch secret arrests of all dissents in HK, just like Liu Xiaobo and Gui Minhai.
1.3/ The promise of “2systems” can no longer be held. The claim of "foreign collusion" will doubtlessly lead to arbitrary political prosecutions since the law is now enforced not by local courts but by a newly established secret police body, just like China.
1.4/ China has been notorious for arresting dissents or foreigners in the name of national security or foreign collusion. The so-called foreign collusion is more than an excuse to rip away pro-democracy forces.
1.5/ The law also carries deadly implications for all expats living and working in Hong Kong. In fact, Beijing is notorious accusing critical voices by civil society, ex-pats and media outlets of posing threats to national security in Mainland China.
1.6/ China is known for its hostage diplomacy by arresting foreigners as hostages to serve its diplomatic purposes. Foreign reporters were also denied renewals of work visas for covering political dissents in the past.
1.7/ Therefore, this draconian law, once promulgated, is just the prelude to more oppressive controls on the local circles and ex-pats living and working in Hong Kong.
2/ [How do you see this planned law?]
2.1/ The new law is the direct retaliation on HKers' international lobbying efforts over the past year. I will be probably the prime target of the new law since many of Beijing's officials have been criticizing me for attending hearings.
2.1/ The new law is the direct retaliation on HKers' international lobbying efforts over the past year. I will be probably the prime target of the new law since many of Beijing's officials have been criticizing me for attending hearings.
2.2/ However, we are just the one who tell the truth of autocratic oppression and police brutality to the world. A few days ago, the CCP's mouthpiece, CCTV, publicly accused Nathan Law and me as the leaders behind the movement even though HKProtest is well known as a leaderless.
2.3/ China is now scraping the promised autonomy in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a legally binding international treaty at the United Nations. Hence, it also carries deadly implications to other agreements and cooperations with China.
3/ [And how is the mood in HK?]
3.1/ This is the critical moment of the beginning of the end for every single citizen in HK. In the face of this draconian law, HKers will not be scared off from telling truths and fighting for our justice.
3.1/ This is the critical moment of the beginning of the end for every single citizen in HK. In the face of this draconian law, HKers will not be scared off from telling truths and fighting for our justice.
3.2/ This is not a question of whether our choices are easy or not, but right or wrong! To fight for any slight hope of democracy under China's authoritarian claws, we insist on not because we are strong, but because we have no other choice.
3.3/ We will continue our cause for democracy since truth and justice should not die in silence. The new law will spark new rounds of protests in the city. In fact, the reason for 2 millions of HKers took to streets is to protect our next generations from evil laws from Beijing.
3.4/ Hongkongers have carried out a large-scale demonstration once in 2003 to block the first introduction of national security legislation. Now Beijing's move is actually ramming this most controversial and unpopular law down HKer's throat without any legislative scrutiny.
3.5/ It is foreseeable that HKers are prepared to fight to protect our vanishing freedoms. To uphold autonomy and freedoms of the city, I call upon the world to stand with HK once again, and oppose this draconian law and urge China to honour its commitment in Joint Declaration.
