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Hong Kong Police fire tear gas at protesters of China’s security law plan
- Thousands of protesters took to the streets this morning
- Protest against China’s security plan
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Thousands of protesters took to the streets this morning demonstrating against China’s plans to impose a new security law on the territory.
The law is seeking to pass a law that would ban ‘treason, secession, sedition and subversion’ in the territory.
The law has attracted criticism from around the world terming the plan a ‘comprehensive assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms’.
China has dismissed the fears that the legislation would harm foreign investors operating in the country, terming the criticism as ‘pure meddling of the country’s affairs’.
Protesters gathered in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts of the city on Sunday, chanting slogans against the government and waving banners.
Riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators from the streets. The protesters wore face-masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
The Proposed Law
The draft includes an article that calls on the nation ‘improving its national security’.
It further reads that “When needed, relevant national security organs of the Central People’s Government will set up agencies in Hong Kong to fulfil relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law.”
This means that China could potentially have its own law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong, alongside the city’s.
The law has been condemned by Washington, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemning the plans which he quoted as a ‘death knell’ for the enjoyment of freedom in the city.
UK, Canada and Australia have also expressed their concerns about the proposed law.
