Don't Restrict HK People's Travel: Fernando Cheung

Outgoing Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung says Beijing may try to restrict people from leaving the SAR as concerns grow about the new national security law.

Speaking on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong programme, Cheung - who's not seeking re-election in September's Legislative Council elections - says the new law turned Hong Kong from an international city into an ordinary Chinese city overnight.

He expects an exodus of professionals and young people, and warned that travel restrictions will only make the SAR more unstable. He warned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against taking further measures.

"The sense of security and discontent would become much worse if the CCP decides to restrict people from leaving Hong Kong," Cheung said.

"Judging from the draconian contents of the law and the secretive enactment process, it is not entirely impossible for the CCP to impose restrictions on the freedom to travel for HongKongers."

He also warned against measures to curtail the public's use of the web.

"Social and economic conditions would become much more unstable if (the) CCP decides to crack down harshly and restrict access to the internet," Cheung said.