Reaction: how China’s new security law ‘crushes Hong Kong dissent’

Controversial legislation appears even more stringent ‘both in scope and penalties’ than was feared

Hong Kong protester arrested
Controversial legislation appears even more stringent ‘both in scope and penalties’ than was feared
(Image credit: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has signed a controversial national security law for Hong Kong, almost exactly a year after students first flooded onto the city’s streets to protest against Beijing’s tightening grip over the territory.

The stringent new legislation is designed to “quash any hint” of a resurgence of last year’s mass anti-government protests, with activists who challenge the authorities facing punishments including life imprisonment, says CNN.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.