Cases of terrorism in Hong Kong are increasing, and activities detrimental to national security are becoming more widespread and uncontrollable, said Hong Kong Security Secretary John Lee.
“Last year, violence in Hong Kong intensified, in many cases explosives and firearms were used. Terrorism is growing, activities that are detrimental to national security, such as calls for Hong Kong independence, are becoming more common”, – John Lee said.
John Lee emphasized that “society is filled with violence and has lost peace; in just a few months, Hong Kong has transformed from one of the safest cities on the planet to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence”.
He also said that on May 24, protests were accompanied by radical and violent actions, they expressed rage, destroying shops, blocking roads, civilians and police officers were injured.
According to him, all this “proves the necessity and urgency of the decision, which should be considered by the All-China Assembly of People’s Representatives”.
“I fully support the draft decision of the Assembly on the creation and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms to ensure national security in Hong Kong, which will allow Hong Kong to return to the right path, ensuring its long-term prosperity and stability”, – he added.
After several months of relatively calm conditions, mass anti-government protests were held in Hong Kong on Sunday, police dispersed using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them, and more than 180 people were detained. People took to the streets, protesting against the consideration at the session in the Chinese parliament of the project “Decisions on the creation and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms to ensure national security in the special administrative region of Hong Kong”.
The head of the Hong Kong administration, Carrie Lam, supported the consideration of the bill, saying that its adoption would not affect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents. As the South China Morning Post previously reported, a national security bill designed specifically for Hong Kong will ban subversive and separatist activities. According to the sources of the publication, the law provides for a ban on all types of incitement aimed at overthrowing the central government, as well as terrorism and outside interference.