Hong Kong unions have criticised the move, calling it an end to Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” framework and saying that its target is to put an end to the democracy movement.
“Hong Kong’s working class took unprecedented action last year over moves by Carrie Lam’s Legislative Council to implement Beijing’s agenda and control our destiny. We resisted, we spoke very clearly and we won,” said Chan Pat Kan, Chairperson of the Construction and Site General Workers’ Union (CSGWU). (Photo: gettyimages)
“It appears that Beijing has decided that they don’t want to accept our victory and want to proceed on their own terms, passing responsibility to implement these attacks on our human rights to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the highest organ of the Chinese state,” Kan continued.
Kan condemned the law as it represents an historic over-reach of Chinese state power.
“Given the existing laws which allowed for the arrest of 8000 people last year during the height of the democracy movement, we are of the view that this has little to do with maintaining security and is more focused on controlling dissent.”