By Xiangyu Qu
The author is a correspondent with the MENA office of People’s Daily.
China’s top legislature has just endorsed with virtually no objection a draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security. While many of those who have eye-witnessed Hong Kong’s prolonged unrest find the news comforting and cheering, some slander China’s move as a “death knell” for HKSAR’s high degree of autonomy.
The past few years have seen the rise of secessionism and unprecedented scenes of violence in Hong Kong. Vandalism of metro stations, setting fires on streets and attacking police with petrol bombs and bricks have become common occurrences, for which foreign powers and their local proxies should be held accountable.
In contrast to Dubai and other global free ports, there are longstanding loopholes in HKSAR concerning national security. The Article 23 of the Basic Law, a Chinese national law serving as de facto constitution of HKSAR, stipulates that the HKSAR “shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies”.
However, 23 years after the UK returned Hong Kong to China, a local bill of implementing Article 23 is still not around. National security-related bills are dismally scarce and scattered among various laws and regulations, some of which even date back to the British rule and many of which have been left in a state of dormancy. Ever since the abolishment of the colonial-era Special Branch, there has been no professional agency dealing with national security. The legal and institutional vacuum provides foreign intelligence agencies and some non-state actors with the opportunity to gain a foothold, some of which even nicknamed Hong Kong as “a defenseless city” or “oriental Cassablanca”. The 1-month stay of Edward Snowden in Hong Kong not only helped disclose the global surveillance scheme of the US, but give a glimpse of the interplay between major powers in Hong Kong.
The forthcoming legislation offers necessary legal guarantee for China’s central government to exercise its power to protect national security, and also will be constructive in cementing the HKSAR government’s ability to restore societal order and get rid of law enforcement disadvantages. Rather than a heavy blow, the new law installs a hefty bolster to Hong Kong’s future development.
If we look back on history, the rise and fall of great global metropolis hinges on the stability of the political system. Economic growth and political stability are deeply interconnected. The uncertainty associated with an unstable political environment, internal and international alike, may reduce investment and the pace of economic development. Egypt has long been one of the best Arab and African countries in attracting investments, but was interrupted by the outbreak of the Arab Spring with western sponsorship. Luckily, the inauguration of President Fattah al-Sisi in May, 2014 turned the tide. Though shunned by western leaders immediately after taking office, President El-Sisi soon stabilized the external situation in adopting a balanced strategy of diplomacy. Domestically, President El-Sisi had effectively taken on jihadist forces, preventing terrorist attacks on the Suez Canal or crucial tourist facilities, while focusing on upgrading infrastructure. Restoring stability and security is rebuilding the confidence of investors who seek to invest in Egypt. According to UNCTAD’s 2019 World Investment Report, Egypt remains the largest FDI recipient in Africa, with a stock of USD 116.4 billion.
The national security legislation will outlaw acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and conspiracy with external forces in Hong Kong. In doing so, the prosperity and long-term stability of HKSAR can be better safeguarded, which is in line with the common interest of the whole international community.
