Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the major political and social effects of the Hong Kong National Security Law on Hong Kong. It is argued that the enactment of this Law allows Hong Kong not only to end its protracted political turmoil since its return to China in 1997, but also will generate the favorable conditions for long-term stability and effective governance in the territory.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the author’s close observation of what had happened in Hong Kong in the year since the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect on 1 July 2020.FindingsThe Hong Kong National Security Law has brought about significant changes in the political psychology of Hongkongers, the balance of power among different political forces, the ability of external forces to interfere in Hong Kong politics, the way Hong Kong is governed, the relationship between the government and the legislature, the activities in the educational and cultural sectors, and the behavior of the judiciary.Originality/valueThis paper would be of interest to scholars and people who are interested in the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as well as Beijing’s new policy towards Hong Kong in the aftermath of Hong Kong’s unprecedented riots and violence.
Highlights
On 30 June 2020, the National People’s Congress passed the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and officially implemented it in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2020)
The legislative purpose is to implement the decision made at the end of 2019 by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on “establishing and improving the legal system and implementation mechanism of the special administrative region to maintain national security”, thereby filling in the serious vulnerability left behind by the failure of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) in completing the enactment of Article 23 of the Basic Law
It can be said that the Hong Kong National Security Law has created a political and social environment conducive to the effective governance and long-term stability in the SAR in several aspects
Summary
On 30 June 2020, the National People’s Congress passed the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” (referred to as the “Hong Kong National Security Law”) and officially implemented it in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2020). It can be said that the Hong Kong National Security Law has created a political and social environment conducive to the effective governance and long-term stability in the SAR in several aspects.
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