The National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s highest
legislative body, has passed a new national security law for Hong Kong amid
grave human rights concerns raised by activists and residents. Religious
communities in the city, as well as the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom, have also expressed concerns
about the potential threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
The law took effect at 23.00 hours local time on 30 June, as soon as the
Chinese language version was published. However, no official English
translation has been released. Chinese state-run media have published some
details on parts of the bill which prohibit secession, subversion, terrorism
and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. The law has
met with fierce opposition from activists, residents and democratic governments
around the world, who believe the law is a serious threat to human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
The criminalisation of acts categorised as ‘subversion’ and ‘foreign
collusion’ could potentially endanger the right to freedom of religion or
belief in Hong Kong. In Mainland China, religious leaders and lawyers who
defend freedom of religion or belief have been charged under similar terms such
as ‘inciting to subvert state power’, including Pastor Wang Yi
of Early Rain Church. In addition, ‘national security’ has long been used as a
pretext for heavy restrictions on ethnic and religious minorities such as
Uyghur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists.
On 31 May a group of Christian pastors and churchgoers in Hong Kong
issued a statement
expressing their opposition to the law, stating that the decision further
deprives Hong Kong of freedom and human rights. Falun Gong practitioners have
also expressed
fears that the law will be “the end of freedom of speech and freedom of belief
in Hong Kong.”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also expressed concern about the
effect that the law will have on FoRB in Hong Kong. In a statement
USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer said: “This new national security
legislation would potentially expand the Chinese Communist Party’s war on faith
in the mainland to hundreds of thousands of believers in Hong Kong.” The
statement also cites fears from religious leaders in the city, and notes that
the head of China’s Hong Kong office, Xia Baolong, previously oversaw a crackdown
against churches in Zhejiang Province.
The law has drawn widespread concern from the international community,
including the EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK and the USA. On 30 June UK
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said
that China’s decision not to step back from imposing the new legislation was “a
grave step, which is deeply troubling,” adding, “we urgently need to see the
full legislation, and will use that to determine whether there has been a
breach of the Joint Declaration and what further action the UK will take.”
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “We are dismayed by the passing
of a law which is at odds with Hong Kong’s long-standing status as a city based
on the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the right to freedom
of religion or belief. There are widespread fears that this law could seriously
threaten religious freedom and other human rights for the city’s residents,
with a chilling effect on civil society. The Chinese government is responsible
for some of most serious human rights violations in the world today. We echo
the recommendations
made by 50 UN Independent Experts calling on the UN Human Rights Council to
take urgent action to monitor human rights violations in China, including Hong
Kong. We further call on the international community to stand with everyone in
Hong Kong – including religious communities and civil society groups –
peacefully advocating for human rights and rule of law. In the face of these
unprecedented challenges, we must look for new ways to support these courageous
individuals.”