Beijing steps up repression in Hong Kong

by Peter Westmore Following months of unrest in Hong Kong over the refusal of the Beijing-nominated Government to protect human rights and the rule of law, the communist-controlled National People’s Congress in Beijing has adopted a security law which will be enforced in Hong Kong. This is contrary to the Sino-British Treaty signed in 1984. The new law has the following elements: Beijing will establish a national security office, staffed by mainland security services, to supervise local authorities in policing the law. Hong Kong’s top official will pick which judges hear national security cases, overriding the independence of Hong Kong’s judiciary. Mainland Chinese authorities can “exercise jurisdiction” over cases in special circumstances, meaning certain crimes in Hong Kong could result in trials on the mainland. Hong Kong will set up…