Hong Kong national security law

A law imposed by China on Hong Kong in 2020 that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, and establishes mainland security agencies and special procedures in the territory.

Secession: The withdrawal of a territory or political unit from a state or federation. The law criminalizes secessionist acts and activities, including some forms of advocacy.
Basic Law of Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s constitutional document, adopted by China and effective from the 1997 handover. Article 23 called for Hong Kong to enact national security laws of its own.
Apple Daily: A Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper that closed in 2021 after police raids and asset freezes. Its closure followed arrests and enforcement actions under the national security law.
Hong Kong National Security Law (2024): Hong Kong’s 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted to implement Basic Law Article 23. Unlike the 2020 law, it was enacted by Hong Kong’s legislature rather than imposed by Beijing.
Subversion: The attempted undermining or overthrow of an established political system or authority. Subversion is one of the law’s four principal offenses.
Article 23 of the Basic Law: A Basic Law provision requiring Hong Kong to enact laws against specified threats to national security. The 2020 law came from Beijing after Hong Kong had not fulfilled this obligation.
Hong Kong electoral changes: Reforms that restricted candidacy and reorganized Hong Kong elections around political loyalty and eligibility screening. The law’s security framework accompanied changes that narrowed opposition participation.
Hong Kong autonomy: The degree of self-government Hong Kong exercises under the constitutional framework established after the 1997 handover. The law’s direct imposition raised disputes about the territory’s autonomy.
Terrorism: The use or threat of violence to intimidate a population or influence political authorities. The law defines terrorism as an offense, including certain serious disruptions of public infrastructure.
2003 Hong Kong national security bill: A proposed Hong Kong bill to implement Article 23 that was withdrawn after large protests. Its withdrawal left the Article 23 legislative task unresolved for years.

Linked from 20 pages