NPCSC Set To Vote On National Security Law For HK

The National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) is expected to vote on the national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday as it closes its three-day meeting.

The official news agency Xinhua reported on Monday that the draft law has been discussed and the resolution – that's due to be voted on – has been handed to the committee for further deliberation.

“Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over Sunday's meeting of the Council of Chairpersons, which heard the report on suggested revisions to the draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” the agency reported.

“Based on lawmakers' deliberations, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee has prepared a version of the draft law proposed to be voted on”, it said.

But it didn't reveal any details of the draft law.

Sources have told RTHK that there's no mention of retrospective effect for the law in the latest version of the draft.

Earlier Executive Councillor Ronny Tong had said that the minimum punishment for the serious crimes like secession and subversion could be set at 10 years.

He also said that some cases would warrant a life sentence and that is in line with international practice.