Thread by @StephenMcDonell

Coming up: #HongKong’s #Beijing-installed leader Carrie Lam speaks to the U.N. in #Geneva about human rights on the same day the new security law comes into being making certain speech/other dissent potentially judged treason, sedition or secession punishable by hefty prison time

#HongKong’s new state security law has just reportedly been rubber stamped through the National People’s Congress Standing Committee in #Beijing with unanimous support from its 175 members. It’ll become law tomorrow. #China

In #HongKong the leadership of pro-democracy party Demosisto - incl Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow & Nathan Law - have all quit the Party they founded saying they could be targeted by the new state security law in their city. (BTW NPC Standing Cttee only has 162 members at present)

A lot of blacking out on @BBCWorld TV today in #China as the censores pull the feed when we start reporting on the new #HongKong state security law. “...who fear it could become a greater threat to Hong Kong’s...”

New #HongKong law means: Certain speech, unapproved demonstrations, acts of agitation can be treated as crimes of secession/subversion with lengthy prison sentences. Judges presiding over such cases to be hand-picked by Hong Kong’s leader who's effectively installed by Beijing

In terms of timing re when the #HongKong state security law technically comes "active"... #China

https://twitter.com/NPC_Observer/status/1277911617334841349

#HongKong's leader Carrie Lam said that the new state security law would come into effect "later today". #China

And then, after the law comes into effect "later today", after it's too late to change it in any way, I suppose they will finally release the details of what the law actually is. #HongKong #China

You'll notice the troll defence of the new #HongKong security law as "just like in other countries". Utter nonsense. A call for Tasmanian independence = prison? A meeting in Mainz decrying Berlin's regional policies = state security police pick you up? But see Ilham Tohti's case.

For anyone who thinks #HongKong's new state security law is "just like in other countries", please explain in which other countries Uighur economist Ilham Tohti would receive a life sentence for separatism? His treatment under existing #China state security laws is the HK warning

As for the acts of violence and vandalism from some pro-democracy activists and pro-Beijing triad gangs, exactly which of their actions could not be dealt with under existing #HongKong laws? (Thus necessitating the new State Security law) Let's have them...?

Still waiting: As for the acts of violence + vandalism from any pro-democracy activists or that from pro-Beijing triad gangs, exactly which of their actions could not be dealt with under existing #HongKong laws? (Thus necessitating the new State Security law) Let's have them...?

Apparently finally, in the next 5 minutes or so, after it’s already been signed into law & can’t be changed, the government of #China is going to release the actual details of the #HongKong state security law. I mean why would people want to have access to it before it’s passed?

So here it is, the full text of the controversial #HongKong state security law (only in Chinese for now). #China. gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/2…

#HongKong state security law officially took effect at 23.00 local time (18 minutes ago). Here is the finally released official text of the law in Chinese. #China. gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/2…

The #HongKong security law provides for a maximum life imprisonment +for the new state security branch of HK police to use non-HK staff (I guess mainland state security lending a hand) + decisions made by the new state security commission “not open to juridical review” cont...

So #Beijing’s new National Security Commission can do whatever it likes in #HongKong without “interference from other agencies” and without any judicial review oh and + it can “manage” media organisations and NGOs in the city. #China

Also to “fuel hatred” amongst #HongKong people against the governments in #Beijing or #HongKong via “illegal means” can get you (wait for it) life imprisonment. #China

Amongst the crimes defined as “terrorism”, destroying public transport and transport facilities. #HongKong #China

Trials can be held in secret, without a jury, if deemed necessary on state security grounds and mainland officials can even take over a whole trial and operate it under mainland #China’s rules if this is seen as necessary. #HongKong

#HongKong police to be able to get phone taps and other communications intercept approval directly from CE Carrie Lam. Don’t need approval of a judge. #China

This law also seems to apply to anybody in the world, not only #HongKong citizens, in any country.. if you incite hatred towards the Chinese or HK Governments or the Communist Party you can be found guilty under this security law. Guess you’d have to visit HK to be picked up?

These really are the new flags which #HongKong police will have at protests from now on in the city. Police have confirmed it. #China

So this is confirmation that certain flags, banners and even chanting certain slogans are to be treated by the police as being in breach of #HongKong’s state security law meaning potential arrest and lengthy prison time. #China