Controversial law postponed

last updated 8 January 2015

Hong Kong

Democracy advocates won a huge victory this week, as Hong Kong’s chief executive decided to delay a new law curtailing free speech and civil rights. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa abruptly canceled implementation of the “anti-subversion bill’’ after 500,000 people—nearly a tenth of the city’s population—poured into the streets in protest. The law would set steep penalties for treason, sedition, secession, and other offenses, and allow police to search people’s homes for evidence of anti-government activity. Critics say the law would make Hong Kong just another city in China, six years after the former British colony reverted to Beijing’s control. The Beijing government still wants the bill enacted as soon as possible, setting up a confrontation with Liberal Party members in Hong Kong’s government, who say they’ll refuse to approve the law.