HONG KONG – Carrie Lam, head of the Hong Kong government, said on Tuesday that the new security law does not spell “doom and gloom” trying to calm the rising concerns over the legislation. Critics believe that the law would end freedoms enjoyed by city residents.
Concerned over the impact of the new law, short-form video app TikTok said it was leaving the financial hub. Other tech companies have also said they are suspending processing the government’s requests for access to user data.
The new law imposed by Beijing on the former UK colony is aimed at punishing what China defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
After it came into effect last Tuesday, the police cracked down on protesters making over 300 arrests the next day.
“Surely, this is not doom and gloom for Hong Kong,” said Lam during a media breifing.
“I’m sure, with the passage of time, and efforts and facts are being laid out, confidence will grow in ‘one country, two systems’ and in Hong Kong’s future,” said the leader who is backed by Beijing.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field