 HK govt tells schools to remove books breaching security law Hong Kong (AFP) July 6, 2020 - Hong Kong's government on Monday ordered schools to review and remove any books that might breach a sweeping new security law that Beijing imposed last week on the restless city. "In accordance with the four types of offences clearly stipulated in the law, the school management and teachers should review teaching and learning materials in a timely manner, including books," the Education Bureau said. "If they find outdated content or content that may concern the four aforementioned offences, they should remove them," the bureau added. Last week China enacted a security law outlawing four national security crimes: subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces. Authorities promptly declared political views espousing independence or self-autonomy would be viewed as illegal under the new law. Rights groups and legal analysts have warned the broad wording of the law, which was kept secret until it was passed, would have a chilling effect of political freedoms in the semi-autonomous hub. The order for schools to review and remove any contraband books comes two days after Hong Kong's libraries said they were also pulling titles deemed to breach the law for a review. Among those withdrawn from shelves was one by prominent activist Joshua Wong, another by pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan and multiple other titles written by Chin Wan, a scholar who is seen as the godfather of a "localist" movement advocating greater self-determination for the city. Hong Kong has some of Asia's best universities and a campus culture where topics that would be taboo on the mainland are still discussed and written about. But Beijing has made clear it wants education in the city to become more "patriotic" especially after a year of huge, often violent and largely youth-led pro-democracy protests.
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Hong Kong's leader Tuesday defended Beijing's new security law for the financial hub, saying it would restore stability and confidence as she vowed to "vigorously implement" the controversial legislation.
Speaking at a press conference a week after China imposed the law on the semi-autonomous city, Chief Executive Carrie Lam combined warnings with assurances to Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents.
"The Hong Kong government will vigorously implement this law," she said. "And I forewarn those radicals not to attempt to violate this law, or cross the red line, because the consequences of breaching this law are very serious."
She denied allegations the law would stifle freedoms and hit out at what she said were "fallacies" written about its impact.
"Surely this is not doom and gloom for Hong Kong," Lam said.
"I'm sure with the passage of time... confidence will grow in 'One Country, Two Systems' and in Hong Kong's future," she added, naming the model that allows Hong Kong to keep certain liberties and autonomy from the mainland.
The national security law is the most radical shift in how Hong Kong is run since the city was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
The content was kept secret from Hong Kongers until the moment it was imposed one week ago, bypassing the city's legislature.
It targets crimes under four categories: subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces, and gives China jurisdiction in some especially serious cases.
Legal analysts, critics and many western nations warn the broadly-worded categories criminalise many peaceful dissenting opinions.
The Hong Kong government has made clear that advocating independence or greater autonomy for the city is now illegal, and at least ten arrests have already been made under the new law.
Hong Kongers have scrubbed social media accounts, businesses have taken down protest displays while libraries and schools have removed certain books from their shelves.
Lam rejected suggestions the law had alarmed residents and said the legislation was designed to protect the freedoms of the majority.
"I have not seen widespread fears amongst Hong Kong people in the last week," she said.
"This national security law is actually relatively mild."
Her press conference came hours after the government unveiled vastly expanded powers to conduct warrantless raids and surveillance -- as well as issue internet takedown notices -- under the law.
These rules were announced in a document released after the inaugural meeting on Monday of a new national security commission, which is headed by Beijing's top envoy to the city.
On Tuesday Lam said all future workings of the committee would be kept secret.
China accuses UK of 'gross interference' over Hong Kong
London (AFP) July 6, 2020 -
Beijing's ambassador to London on Monday accused Britain of "gross interference" in China's internal affairs" over its response to a controversial national security law in Hong Kong.
The UK government has said it will offer Hong Kong residents a broader path to citizenship in response to the sweeping new security law for the former British territory.
The move could pave the way for more than three million Hong Kongers to move to Britain.
But Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming said Beijing has expressed its "grave concern and strong opposition" to the proposals, arguing that London has "no sovereignty, jurisdiction or rights of supervision over Hong Kong".
"These moves constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs and openly trample on the basic norms governing international relations," he told reporters.
China last week enacted the sweeping security law for the restless city of around 7.5 million people, banning acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
The legislation, which has sent a wave of fear through the territory, has criminalised dissenting opinions such as calls for independence or autonomy.
Britain is among the Western nations moving to offer millions of Hong Kongers refuge in response.
London has said it has a duty of care to residents of a colony it handed back to China in 1997, under an agreement designed to preserve its autonomy and freedoms for 50 years.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament last week he will allow anyone with British National (Overseas) (BNO) status -- and their dependents -- to come to Britain and eventually receive citizenship.
About 300,000 Hong Kongers have BNO passports and another 2.6 million are eligible to apply.
However, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab conceded last week that Britain may be powerless if China moves to prevent a mass exodus.
Johnson's spokesman reiterated Monday that the law was "a clear and serious breach" of the 1984 Sino-British joint declaration governing Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule.
"We said we would make changes to the immigration rights of BNOs if China implemented this legislation and we have delivered on that promise," he added.
Liu said Beijing was mulling what reciprocal actions to take.
"We have to wait and see. We have to decide our counter-measures in accordance what the actual actions [are] to be taken by the British side," he added.
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