A controversial national security legislation has been signed into law by China’s President Xi Jinping.
According to Aljazeera, the development is for Hong Kong, as Beijing says is necessary to deal with separatism and foreign interference.
But critics say will outlaw dissent and destroy the autonomy promised when the territory was returned to China in 1997.
So far, details of the law – which comes in response to last year’s often-violent pro-democracy protests in the city – are due out later on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the legislation will come into effect when it is gazetted in Hong Kong – bypassing the semi-autonomous territory’s own legislature – and is expected to be in force by July 1, the anniversary of the former British territory’s return to Chinese rule.
While making comments, Tam Yiu-Chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative on the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which approved the law on Tuesday morning said:
Speaking further, he stated that, “We hope the law will serve as a deterrent to prevent people from stirring up trouble,”
“Don’t let Hong Kong be used as a tool to split the country.”
