#THREAD: This is the OFFICIAL (for reference only) #English #translation of #China's National Security Law imposed on #HongKong for the SAR's 23rd birthday. The thread below are some of my key Articles to note, taken from the translation. https://twitter.com/Perseus852/status/1278072747990679553

"Article 1 This Law is enacted, in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China..."

Lawyers have suggested that this NSL has been enacted contrary to -->

--> Articles 18 and 22 of #HongKong's #BasicLaw, as this is not a piece of "national legislation", but a piece of legislation only dealing with #HK, and therefore cannot be enacted under Article 18 of the Basic Law.

"Article 4 ... The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration... shall be protected in accordance with the law."

A bit hard to have freedom of speech etc when -->

--> Chapter III of the law has very broad definitions for what is considered to be "organises, plans, commits or participates in", or "incites, assists in, abets or provides pecuniary or other financial assistance or property for the commission by other persons" the offences -->

--> of "seccession" (Articles 20-21) and "subversion" (Articles 22-23).

Also, Articles 29-30 on collusion with the (in)famous "black-handed foreign forces" is pretty wide. For example, "provoking by unlawful means hatred among Hong Kong residents towards the -->

--> provoking by unlawful means hatred among Hong Kong residents towards the Central People’s Government or the Government of the Region, which is likely to cause serious consequences" with the "black-handed foreign forces" is a crime.

But does this not go against freedom -->

--> of thought and freedom of speech? What if someone gives evidence to a Parliamentary Committee, or to the international press about negative things which the #CCP has done? There is no need to "conspire" with a foreign political organisation. Article 29 says "conspires -->

--> with a foreign country or an institution, organisation or individual".

Also, "The institution, organisation and individual ... referred to in the first paragraph of this Article shall be convicted and punished for the same offence."

Article 33(3) encourages Cultural Revolution style doxxing by offering lighter penalties, reduction of penalties, or even exemption from penalties if a person "reports on the offence committed by other person, which is verified to be true, or provides material information -->

--> which assists in solving other criminal case."

Basically, report as many other people as you can and you may just get let off for your "transgressions".

Article 34 provides confirms that this law will be applicable to those who are not permanent residents of #HongKong, who may face prosecution and / or deportation for violation of the National Security Law.

Article 36 provides for international jurisdiction of the applicability of the law, as offences do not have to be committed in #HongKong, but deemed to be covered if "the consequence of the offence occurs in the Region."

Article 37 provides that the National Security Law shall apply to those who are permanent residents of the #HongKong SAR, although the drafting is pretty poor because Article 38 then goes on to say it also applies to those who are NOT permanent residents of the #HKSAR.

Why -->

--> not simply have an Article which simply says the National Security Law is applicable to all and sundry in the whole wide world? Let's face it, that is what those Articles 37 and 38 mean.

Putting Articles 36-38 together, it basically means anyone in the whole wide world -->

--> who has committed the wide array of offences as per Chapter III will be guilty of an offence.

#CarrieLam said she wants to rebuild #BrandHK, rebuild the tourism industry etc... yes, great... let's just consider MOST people criminals and invite them to HK. The maximum -->

--> sentence for offences under the National Security Law is imprisonment for LIFE!!!

Welcome to the "Hotel #HongKong"... where "you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!"

"Article 39 This Law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment."

Officially, there is no retrospective application of the law. Practically...?