This @globaltimesnews piece claimed that the proposed national security law is almost ready to be enacted and it won’t be bringing suspects to #China for investigation and interrogation. However, does it still matter where people are being tried? globaltimes.cn/content/118919…
Many aspects of the law will be forcing the judicial, legislative and administrative branches of the #HongKong government to adopt Chinese legal standard, which will seriously erode the effectiveness of the Basic Law.
“it is also necessary to solve the supporting mechanisms of Hong Kong's judicial system, such as the establishment of courts specializing in national security crimes, or learn from Macao to allow only Chinese judges and prosecutors to handle cases involving national security.”
The passage above is alarming enough. Allowing Chinese judges and prosecutors to handle national security related cases means getting rid of all legal due process and likely remove a lot of normal benefits that defendants can enjoy in the original legal system in Hong Kong.
“Given the legislation would be a national law, it can be written into the regulations that establish a central-level national security mechanism.” This is also false claim. The law is specifically targeted for #HongKong. How is it a national law?
More false attribution from @globaltimesnews - “The delayed passage of Article 23 of the Basic Law is widely believed to have become a major factor that has led to relentless radical protests in the city since last year.” - The protest was sparked by a controversial ...
... extradition bill, and it has nothing to do whether Article 23 of the Basic Law has been passed or not. Blaming a months-long unrest on lack of a draconian national security law is pathetic.
So quoting @qingqingparis’s word, yes, this is huge because it will completely destroy the promise made under the One Country, Two Systems’ framework, and turn #HongKong into just another city in #China. So yes, these new details are terrifyingly huge.
