Hong Kong moves to strengthen domestic security law

More than a year after passing its own domestic security law, Hong Kong plans to augment it with subsidiary legislation to offer better support to the Beijing office overseeing national security in the city, including declaring its premises as a “prohibited place”.

The move comes against the backdrop of renewed US-China tensions and is seen as a pre-emptive measure to close any potential loopholes in guarding national security.

According to a paper submitted by the Security Bureau and Department of Justice to the legislature on Monday, the proposed subsidiary legislation for the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will mandate that any government department or any civil servant must provide the Beijing office with “all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection in accordance with the law and in a timely manner”.

The administration also proposes prohibiting anyone who knows or suspects that Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong is handling a case “from disclosing to any other person any information relating to that investigation without reasonable excuse or lawful authority”.

Under the plan, the city leader will also declare premises where the office performs its mandate as “prohibited places” to minimise national security risks.

Any contravention of the subsidiary legislation may be subject to a fine not exceeding HK$500,000 (US$64,102) and imprisonment not exceeding seven years.