Life imprisonment, jury-less trials among key elements in China's sweeping Hong Kong security law

The full details of China's new national security law aimed at Hong Kong are out, and the early consensus is that it's as worrisome for the city's autonomy as feared, if not more so.

The released draft lacks an English-language companion, but several journalists independently translated the articles. As expected, the bill targets people who participate in or plan activities considered to be secessionist, state subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces, all of which are defined fairly broadly. Participants will face a sentence of three to 10 years, while orchestrators face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Trials are reportedly expected to remain public, but they can go behind closed doors, barring journalists, and even juries depending on the circumstances.

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The law will also apparently apply to non-permanent residents who allegedly commit crimes in foreign countries.

The most striking element of the law, though, appears to be that decisions made by the newly established state security commission won't be subject to review from judicial institutions, suggesting it has what amounts to unchecked authority on the matter. Read many more details in the sweeping law in these Twitter threads.