Global Financial Market Review

Pro-democracy groups on Friday warned that Beijing’s move to enact national security law will pave way for the central government setting up its own national security bureau here and operating in the Special Administrative Region.

Under the Basic Law, local law enforcement rests with the Hong Kong government and mainland agencies can not operate in the SAR without the government’s permission.

At a joint press briefing by opposition parties who were joined by human rights activists and a religious group, the leaders said Beijing is not only demolishing Hong Kong and the One Country Two Systems principle, but also hurting its own interest by planning to impose national security laws here.

Former lawmaker and secretary of The Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic movements in China, Lee Cheuk-yan said under the draft – which was unveiled in Beijing on Friday – the central government can set up its own national security bureau in Hong Kong.

“It’s a complete disruption of the Hong Kong system of course, and when they impose a national security organisation in Hong Kong, set up by the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong,” said Lee.

He said it is a signal that Beijing is “directly taking control” through this move. “But of course they said that there’s a word there that, you know, sort of say that if they need to,” he said.

Lee also said this a challenge to everyone. “They are challenging the world, are you going to do something for Hong Kong, if you are not doing anything for Hong Kong, then they will do that,” said the former lawmaker.

Civic Party’s Tanya Chan, who is the spokeswoman for the pan-democratic camp, said if mainland security agencies are established here, she’s concerned suspects could be taken to the mainland from Hong Kong.

Democratic Party lawmaker Helena Wong added that would mean “even the SAR government will not be able to regulate what the agents do in Hong Kong”.

Justice & Peace Commission for Catholic Diocese said it is concerned the national security laws will be used suppress religious activities.

The commission’s Jacky Hung said the city should have universal suffrage before laws on national security are enacted.