ALBAWABA- Hong Kong has passed national security laws, yielding to Beijing's demands, in a move that signals a significant erosion of the city's promised autonomy from China.
The new legislation, enacted on Tuesday, empowers authorities to crack down on opposition to Beijing and the Hong Kong government, introducing severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for vaguely defined political crimes such as treason and insurrection.
Additionally, the laws target "external interference" and state secrets theft, posing potential risks for multinational corporations and international organizations operating in the financial hub.
Analysts warn that the laws, effective from March 23, could have a chilling effect on various sectors, including entrepreneurs, civil servants, lawyers, journalists, and academics, raising concerns about Hong Kong's international standing.
With key opposition figures either jailed or exiled, the legislation further tightens Beijing's grip on the city, following the imposition of the first national security law in 2020, aimed at quelling dissent amid widespread antigovernment protests in 2019.
