Hong Kong parliament passes draconian law to crack down on dissent

Hong Kong's parliament has passed a controversial national security law granting the government more power to quash dissent, widely seen as the latest step in a sweeping political crackdown triggered by pro-democracy protests in 2019.

- Helen Davidson

Critics of the safeguarding national security law, also known as article 23, say it will further erode the city's rights and freedoms and usher in a new era of authoritarianism.

Under the law, treason, insurrection and sabotage can be punished with life sentences, while jail terms for sedition are increased from two to seven years, or 10 years if alleged perpetrators are found to have colluded with a foreign force. The law also lengthens allowable periods of detention without charge from 48 hours to two weeks.

The bill was rushed through the legislative council in two weeks after being open for community consultation for just 30 days. It was passed unanimously yesterday by the 90-seat chamber, made up almost wholly of pro-Beijing establishment legislators. All but one sitting member spoke during the seven-hour debate on the second reading.