British common law practice in HK better than in England? I don’t think you have a factual basis for such an opinion, but it must be true if you say so.
What Britain doesn’t have but HK does is a draconian national security law. Per Ai:
>>>>>The Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) criminalizes
secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities, featuring broad definitions that cover speech and activities deemed threats to national security, limiting freedoms and increasing state coercive powers, with some cases even involving mainland legal procedures, causing significant concern about rule of law and civil liberties despite claims of restoring stability. Key features include extraterritorial reach, potential for mainland legal involvement (Article 55), and severe penalties, impacting media, activists, and general discourse.
Core Offences Under HKNSL (Article 2020)
- Secession: Attempting to split Hong Kong from China.
- Subversion: Undermining state power or government legitimacy (e.g., election primaries).
- Terrorism: Organizing terrorist activities.
- Collusion: Working with foreign countries or external forces (e.g., calling for sanctions).
Key Features & Implications
- Broad & Vague Definitions: "National Security" includes "social development security," potentially criminalizing protest-related items or speech.
- Erosion of Rule of Law: Expands state power, silences dissent, and suspends some legal protections.
- Extraterritorial Reach: Applies to acts committed outside Hong Kong.
- Mainland Legal Involvement: Allows for serious cases to be transferred to mainland courts (Article 55).
- Severe Penalties: Includes lengthy prison terms, as seen in pro-democracy activist cases.
- Expansion with SNSO (2024): A local law (Safeguarding National Security Ordinance) further criminalized sedition, treason, espionage, and external interference, broadening scope.
Examples of Application
- Jimmy Lai: Convicted for sedition and collusion for using Apple Daily to call for sanctions.
- Pro-Democracy Activists: Jailed for subversion related to organizing election primaries.
- Vague Prosecutions: Individuals charged for mere plans to display banners or discuss dissent. >>>
Why do I bother?
It is important to show the evils of the CCP, which include ongoing genocide of the Uyghurs and many other examples of evil, lest the propaganda we see here gain a foothold. |
