In a recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Hong Kong government announced that the city has made a “major turn from chaos to governance” since the implementation of the National Security Law. The report, which was published following a three-week public consultation in June, explained that the law has restored stability and prosperity by curbing violent disruptions
According to the report, the National Security Law has created a safer environment for Hong Kong’s residents, enabling their rights and liberties to be more effectively protected. It also argued that courts in the city continue to uphold the rule of law and that Hong Kong preserves the freedoms of press and expression.
Beijing imposed the National Security Law in June 2020 following the controversial extradition bill that ignited the 2019 Hong Kong protests. On July 27, 2022, however, the UN Human Rights Committee did urge Hong Kong to withdraw the National Security Law, expressing deep concern about its broad interpretation and lack of public consultation during its creation. In response, the Hong Kong government defended the law and criticized the Committee’s consistent yet “unsubstantiated criticisms” towards the city’s human rights situation.
Furthermore, Hong Kong appealed to the UN committee to contextualize the National Security Law against the backdrop of the 2019 Hong Kong protests that necessitated its enactment. The government emphasized that the law has “effectively restored stability and security” in the city.
Since its implementation, the National Security Law has led to the arrest of 265 individuals aged between 15 and 90. In addition, the Department of Justice recently published Annotations of the Hong Kong National Security Law and sedition offences in the Crimes Ordinance. These summaries collate cases related to the Law and sedition offences, serving as references for national security education and legal research, according to Secretary for Justice Paul Lam. He also pointed out the obligations of individuals and institutions to comply with the National Security Law and local laws.
For further details, refer to the full report.