What is Hong Kong national security law and why China wants it during Corona-virus?

China has been trying to get control over Hong Kong for some time now and with the pro democracy protests dying down due to the corona virus pandemic and focus of world media shifting from Hong Kong, China sees an opportunity to corner the city once and for all.

China announced on Thursday to introduce Hong Kong national security law unilaterally, bypassing Hong Kong legislature. This is coming on the backdrop of a deadly pandemic which is threatening humanity worldwide. Hong Kong has already been under intense lockdown rules which prohibits assembly of more than few people and gathering of crowds etc. According to pro democracy campaigners this national security law is aimed at cracking down on dissent in Hong Kong. China seems to be digressing from the high level of autonomy and independent judiciary it granted Hong Kong when it took the city from UK in 1997. This "one country two systems" model was put in place for a period of 50 years. Pro democracy campaigners are calling this the end of "one country two system" and thus the end of Hong Kong itself.

What is Hong Kong national security law:
Let's try to understand what this controversial law means and how it is going to affect Hong Kong?

Under article 23 of Hong Kong basic law, the mini-constitution governing the territory, the Hong Kong government must enact laws to prohibit acts like treason, secession, sedition and subversion against the Chinese government and the theft of state secrets. The local government's failure to get such laws through the legislature is the reason that China now takes matters into its own hands. Last time Hong Kong tried to bring this legislation is 2003, almost 500,000 people came on the streets in protest on July 1, 2003. This was by far the biggest protest the city had ever seen and the Hong Kong government had to shelve the piece of legislation. As we can see the picture on the left is the same protest on July 1, 2003. The difference being this time the legislation is pursued by China unilaterally.

It is widely believed that this National security law is being forced upon by China as they have grown out of patience with the local Hong Kong authorities to bring this into action ever since the massive protest in 2003. They believe Hong Kong would not be able to show this piece of legislation, the light of the day. China also believes this law is important and will act as deterrent for the violent protests that rocked the city following the Extradition bill that was introduced last year. Those protests kept the city paralyzed for the most part of 2019, leading to massive economic loss for Hong Kong and loss of face for the Chinese regime. Chinese government believes once this National security law is enacted, it will facilitate arrest and further legal action against those in Hong Kong indulging in such protests.

This law is certainly going to have grave consequences on the hybrid, bustling city that Hong Kong is. Some say, it is the last nail in the coffin, nothing will be the same anymore. People will not be able to speak. Anybody can be rounded up for speaking up and this is not what Hong Kong represented. This is certainly going to limit the civil liberties and public freedom while moving the city from a freewheeling democratic hybrid towards a more authoritarian future.

China's national people's congress is expected to vote on the motion at the end of its annual session around May 28. There are chances that this might spark new wave of protests in the region while most of the people think it won't deter China and they have already made up their mind to go ahead with it "come what may". Though the international community has condemned this move from China and United States has issued a stern warning to China against imposing the law on Hong Kong, saying a high degree of autonomy and respect for human rights were key to preserving Hong Kong's special status. "Any effort to impose national security legislation that does not reflect the will of the people of Hong Kong would be highly destabilizing, and would be met with strong condemnation from the United States and the international community".

Conclusion:
This moves signifies China's restlessness and drive towards gaining control on the semi autonomous city of Hong Kong. The timing seems to suggest, China thinks it's a golden opportunity while the world is busy dealing with the pandemic they can go ahead with such legislation without much global scrutiny. On the other hand, even though the "One country two system" model is still in place, but it is not stopping China from bulldozing it's commitments to the city which it made while taking it back from UK in 1997. After this legislation is passed the city is ought to lose the advantages that made it the jewel in the crown. This is going to bring a fundamental shift in the way this city conducts itself, a move towards authoritarianism seems inevitable.