The Chinese Parliament, also known as the National People’s Congress, passed the Hong Kong security law which completely erodes the autonomy of the coastal city. This has prompted the US to levy economic sanctions on China.
The National People’s Congress voted 2878 to 1 in favour of the legislation that seeks to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference.
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The legislation will alter the coastal city’s “Basic Laws”, which has been its mini-constitution and has always granted it its autonomy.
The draft national security law will empower the Central People’s government to take over the island’s security related matters in the name of threat to national security.
Activists fear that the legislation will erode the coastal city’s autonomy and the rights of its citizens.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo immediately said that the island city doesn’t anymore enjoy a ‘special status’ under the US law and will be considered to be a part of mainland China and will be subjected to harsh economic sanctions that China is already facing.
The US Congress had earlier passed a law to safeguard the freedom and autonomy of Hong Kong. This law permits the US President to levy economic sanctions, travel restrictions on China and its officials for the violation of human rights in Hong Kong.