‘Hong Kong is burning’: Former lawmaker on China’s plans for a new security law

Hong Kong is ‘anxious, angry and frightened,’ ex-lawmaker says of China’s proposed security law

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China’s proposed national security law has made the people in Hong Kong “very anxious, angry and frightened,” said Emily Lau, a former Democratic Party member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

“The big companies are also very nervous, their investors are nervous because Beijing is going to crack down on Hong Kong, take away our freedoms, our personal safety, our rule of law,” she told CNBC.

The draft law, which Beijing said is “highly necessary,” will prohibit secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference, reported Reuters.

But opposition politicians and activists said it goes against the “one country, two systems” framework that allows Hong Kong to maintain a largely separate legal and economic framework from China.


‘Hong Kong is burning’: Former lawmaker on China’s plans for a new security law

Opposition politicians in Hong Kong have spoken up against Beijing’s proposed national security law for the city, claiming that it violates China’s “promise” of autonomy and freedom to the Hong Kong people.

“I think we’re talking from a very anxious, angry and frightened Hong Kong,” said Emily Lau, a former Democratic Party member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

“The big companies are also very nervous, their investors are nervous because Beijing is going to crack down on Hong Kong, take away our freedoms, our personal safety, our rule of law,” she told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Friday.

The Democratic Party is one the largest opposition political parties in Hong Kong, and has the third-largest presence in Legislative Council. Lau is a former chairperson of the party.

Beijing announced the draft national security law during the National People’s Congress, an annual meeting of China’s top legislative body. The law, which Beijing said is “highly necessary,” will prohibit secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference, reported Reuters.

We are not fighting for independence or the overthrow of the Communist Party with force and violence...Emily LauFORMER MEMBER, HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Reports of the proposed legislation sparked activist calls for a protest march on Friday, potentially renewing widespread pro-democracy demonstrations that swamped the city for much of last year — but came to a halt due to the coronavirus outbreak in the beginning of this year.

Hong Kong is ruled under the “one country, two systems” policy, which gives the city self-governing power, a largely separate legal and economic framework from China, and various freedoms including limited election rights. It was a framework that was put in place for 50 years, after the former British colony returned to China in 1997.


A protester holds a flag that says “Free Hong Kong. Revolution of Our Time” at a demonstration on December 8, 2019 in the city.
Anthony Kwan | Getty Images News | Getty Images


Lau said the protests are not a push for Hong Kong’s independence from China.

“We are not fighting for independence or the overthrow of the Communist Party with force and violence,” she said.

“We just want the Chinese government to keep the promise in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration in which Britain handed Hong Kong over to China under ‘one country, two systems’ that we can preserve our free lifestyle until 2047,” she added.

That sentiment is shared by many other politicians and activists.


Tanya Chan, a pro-democracy lawmaker from the Civic Party, said the introduction of the draft law marked the “saddest day in Hong Kong’s history.”

“It confirms one country, one system,” she told reporters in Hong Kong, indicating the draft legislation is a violation of the “one country, two systems” framework.

CNBC reached out to the Chinese government for comment on the politicians’ remarks but has yet to hear back.

No one knows for sure what will happen at the end of the 50 years, when the policy is expected to cease in 2047, but Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam had previously said the one country, two systems” policy could continue beyond the initial 50 years.
‘Time to put an end to it all’

In an editorial published on Friday, Chinese state media Global Times pushed back at criticisms that the proposed law goes against the “one country, two systems” framework.

“On the contrary, the draft law is a move aimed at preventing external forces from meddling in HK (Hong Kong) affairs. It would also deter the power HK extremists. The decision would reestablish a stable environment where the ‘one country, two systems’ principle could work smoothly,” it read.

Hong Kong security law a ‘really serious blow’ to ‘one country, two systems’ notion, says expert

The editorial also blamed “internal and external opposition forces” for “manipulating security loopholes” in the city.

“For the year of 2019, HK did not enjoy a single peaceful day. It was like a city in an undeveloped country engulfed in turmoil. Stores and subway stations were damaged, roads were blocked, and innocent people were attacked and burned. College students were prevented from attending classes,” it said.

“Due to the chaos, HK fell sharply in the global rankings. Now is the time to put an end to it all.”

But Lau — the former lawmaker — said the proposed security legislation will not only affect the Hong Kong people. She said it will also impact a large number of foreign citizens and multi-national companies that have benefited from the city’s freedom.

“I think Hong Kong people have to, we have to stand up for our rights, we have to stand up for our principles,” she said. “But I also call on the international community ... to do something for us.”

— CNBC’s Huileng Tan and Lilian Wu contributed to this report.

Hong Kong Lawmaker On China's Controversial New Security Laws

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Emily Lau about China's plan for new national security laws affecting the region, which would punish antigovernment protests and secessionist behavior.

May 23, 2020
Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday
NPR
Transcript 

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Emily Lau about China's plan for new national security laws affecting the region, which would punish antigovernment protests and secessionist behavior.
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SCOTT SIMON, HOST:


China plans to tighten its grip on Hong Kong. This week, the National People's Congress in Beijing announced a new national security and anti-sedition law the pro-democracy advocates warn could upend the one country two systems framework. Emily Lau is a former Democratic Party member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. And she joins us now from Hong Kong. Ms. Lau, thanks so much for being with us.


EMILY LAU: Thank you.


SIMON: This proposed law criminalizes, quote, "treason, secession, sedition, and subversion against the government." And the state says it's aimed at preventing external forces from meddling in Hong Kong. What's wrong with that?


LAU: Well, they have been making such accusations for quite a number of years, but nobody has ever come up with any evidence of foreign interference and all that. And now without consulting the 7 million Hong Kong people, suddenly, out of the blue in Beijing, they announced that they're going to make this law for us. And they will pass it. I'm sure. The rubber stamp parliament of Beijing will pass it on Thursday next week. And the Hong Kong people are terrified. We don't know the definition of all these terms that you just mentioned. Who is going to come in? Are the people going to be arrested and taken back to mainland China to be tried? None of these things are clear.


SIMON: Well, help us understand how you're concerned this law might be used - assuming it passes.


LAU: We don't know. Just now, there are already reports that there will be demonstrations, marches tomorrow. And, of course, these are taking place without the authorization of the police. And the police said they are going to go all out to arrest them. So we are going to have all these confrontations tomorrow, and the law is not yet passed. But once it's passed, I'm sure there will be more, more such clashes. Is that what Hong Kong wants? They say the business community would welcome the law because it will bring prosperity and stability. But I don't think so. It will make many people, including business people, very anxious.


SIMON: The one country, two systems framework, to remind our listeners, gives Hong Kong a largely separate legal and even economic system from China. You think this this law could begin to upend that.


LAU: Exactly, because in 1997, when Hong Kong was handed by Britain over to Chinese Communist rule, the Chinese Communist government gave an undertaking that there would be a separate system in Hong Kong. Hong Kong people can continue to enjoy our free lifestyle, our rule of law, personal safety - all these things which the people in mainland China do not enjoy. And we should have that for 50 years. Now they are going to implement Chinese laws in Hong Kong. So it is really getting rid of one country, two systems. And that's why people are so angry. And they are so terrified. And we call on the international community - people in America and elsewhere in the free world - to speak out for Hong Kong and to tell the Chinese Communist government to cool it and not to suppress us - not to oppress us like that.


SIMON: Ms. Lau, are you concerned about police and Chinese government reaction if protests begin to pick up in Hong Kong this weekend and in the weeks that follow?


LAU: Well, exactly. It's very sad. There are many, many people, particularly young people, who are very upset. And they are not afraid of going out to confront the police. So in the coming days and weeks and months, I guess you will see scenes of very violent clashes. I hope no one will be killed. And we don't want that to happen. And that need not happen. If people can behave in a civilized manner, sit down and talk to your own people, instead of beating them up and locking them up. That's no way to behave.


SIMON: Emily Lau is a former Democratic Party member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. Thanks so much for being with us.


LAU: Thank you.


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