[ @joshuawongcf & @KwongGlacier in @washingtonpost: This is the final nail in the coffin for HK’s autonomy]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/24/this-is-final-nail-coffin-hong-kongs-autonomy/

1/ Beijing has just hammered the final nail in the coffin for Hong Kong’s autonomy. The promise of “one country, two systems” is dead.

2/ Last week, the NPC introduced a draft decision that purports to “establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms” to “safeguard national security” in H. Once passed, the decision will empower the NPC’s to entirely bypass the local legislative process in HK.

3/ It results in implement the infamous “national security law”. On paper, it aims at prohibiting any act of secession, subversion against Beijing, terrorism & foreign interference. It constitutes, however, a devastating blow to HK’s already fragile autonomy & civil liberties.

4/ Back in 2003, the Hong Kong government’s forceful attempt to pass a similar piece of legislation in the local legislature was met with uproar from civil society and was aborted. The undemocratic nature of the government proved to be its Achilles’ heel.

5/ 15 years later, the legitimacy of the local & central Gov faced yet another major challenge amid the 2019 protest. But now, Beijing has taken advantage of Covid19 & initiated a series of assaults against HK’s autonomy while the global community has its hands tied by the virus.

6/ It first attempted to institutionalize the “supervisory power” of China’s Liaison Office in HK. The NPC is now further attacking “1country2system” by circumventing HK’s Legislature: It legislates by way of inserting the evil law directly to Annex III of the Basic Law.

7/ Protests, electoral institutions & international advocacy helped sustain 2019 movement. By introducing national security law, Beijing wields massive discretionary power to punish protesters, and to cut off HK from the international society and its crucial support on the other.

8/ Beijing has stepped up its propaganda efforts by framing protests, peaceful or otherwise, as terrorism. Under national security law, protesters might be subject draconian legal punishments. Worse still, It explicitly takes aim at foreign interventions “meddling in HK affairs.”

9/ Not only can activists or legislators who have participated in international advocacy efforts be barred from running in elections or even imprisoned, international NGOs and other organizations, including their personnel and assets, can also be subject to legal persecution.

10/ Ultimately, without a proper democratic legislative procedure, vague legal terms such as “secession” and “subversion” easily devolve into repressive tools that intrude on our fundamental freedoms and rights, including freedom of speech, assembly and religion.

11/ It's not implausible that criticism against Beijing or HKGov or even support for protests will soon be construed as a subversive act, punishable by law. Chilling effect will eventually snowball: starts with self-censorship & spills over its borders into the rest of the world.

12/ The liberty of the city — from Asia financial hub to the vibrancy of its civil society — has always been important to global community. The promises of “1country2system”, “high degree autonomy” & free-election are backed by the Joint Declaration under international law.

13/ Top-down insertion of the national security law goes beyond a local matter in HK: It's intended to silence the will of global community. Historically, HK has been the safe haven for the dissident, the liberal-minded and the nonconformist; we speak truth to China.

14/ Amid the virus, China has revealed its true colors as a rogue state. And in the past year, we have been standing at the forefront against China’s encroaching authoritarianism. We sincerely hope that the international community will not give in to the economic benefits.

15/ China has to offer and sacrifice respect for human rights. The economic recession brought by the virus ought not to be resolved through succumbing to China’s encroaching authoritarianism; trade happens on equal and fair terms but not threatening and bullying.

16/ We urge the U.S. government to execute the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, impose sanctions on China and include human rights terms in relation to Hong Kong into trade treaties they are about to conclude with China. We ask you, once again, to stand with Hong Kong.