A Plan to Expand Hong Kong’s National Security Law Accelerates China’s Takeover

Hong Kong’s likely expansion of the National Security Law will accelerate its transition to de facto mainland Chinese rule and presents security risks to businesses operating in the territory. In her Jan. 12 address to the first session of Hong Kong’s newly elected, pro-Beijing Legislative Council (LegCo), Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the government would impose new legislation related to Article 23 of the Hong Kong constitution, which is the foundation for the region’s controversial National Security Law (NSL). Lam’s statement can be interpreted as a pledge by the Hong Kong government to expand the crimes covered by the NSL beyond the four current crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces. ...