Summary

  • Hong Kong police make their first arrests under a new "anti-protest" law imposed by Beijing

  • The legislation comes into effect as the city marks 23 years since the end of British rule

  • Police fire water cannon and detain hundreds of people at demonstrations marking the anniversary

  • The new security law targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments up to life in prison

  • Critics say it erodes freedoms that were meant to be guaranteed by China for at least 50 years from 1997

  • China rejects criticism from foreign countries, saying it will not allow interference in its domestic affairs

  • Up to three million Hong Kong residents are to be offered the chance to settle in the UK

  1. Security law 'a serious violation' of UK-China treatypublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the new security law constituted a "clear violation" of the autonomy of Hong Kong and was a "clear and serious violation" of the treaty drawn up between the UK and China.

    He told reporters in London that China had not lived up the promises it made to the people of Hong Kong.

  2. What is Hong Kong's Basic Law and how does it work?published at 11:53 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    When Hong Kong was handed back to China on 1 July 1997, following more than 150 years of British control, the "one country, two systems" principle was established as the foundation of the relationship.

    While Hong Kong is part of China, the policy has given the Special Administrative Region (SAR) a high degree of autonomy.

    This principle of "one country, two systems" is enshrined in a document called the Basic Law - Hong Kong's mini-constitution. It protects rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech - neither of which exist in mainland China - and also sets out the structure of governance for the territory.

    But politically China still holds control over Hong Kong. The National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) - China's rubber-stamp parliament - holds the ultimate "power of interpretation" of the law. Beijing must also approve the chief executive appointment and controls Hong Kong's defence and foreign affairs.

    The freedoms enshrined under the Basic Law expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will be after that. But critics of China's new national security law say it undermines the region's freedoms and marks "the end of Hong Kong".

  3. A turning point for Hong Kongpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    Michael Bristow
    BBC World Service Asia Pacific editor

    The law gives Beijing extensive powers to shape life in the territory that it has never had before. It not only introduces a series of tough punishments for a long list of crimes, it changes the way justice is administered.

    Trials can be held in secret - and without a jury. Judges can be handpicked. The law reverses a presumption that suspects will be granted bail. There appears to be no time limit on how long people can be held.

    Crimes are described in vague terms, leading to the possibility of broad interpretation, and the right to interpret exists only in Beijing. Foreign nationals outside of Hong Kong face prosecution.

    Most cases will be handled in Hong Kong, but the mainland can take over "complex", "serious" or "difficult" cases. Whether or not you think the legislation was necessary, it is impossible to deny its significance. As Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam put it: this is a turning point.

  4. What is China's National Security Law?published at 11:34 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    In May, China proposed a wide-ranging new security law for Hong Kong which would make it easier to punish protesters and would reduce the city's autonomy.

    Details of the law were kept secret until it was unanimously passed by China's National People's Congress Standing Committee on 30 June and came into force later that day.

    Under its terms, crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces are punishable by a minimum jail sentence of three years, with the maximum being life.

    It also says:

    • Beijing will establish a new security office in Hong Kong, with its own law enforcement personnel - neither of which would come under the local authority's jurisdiction
    • Inciting hatred of China's central government and Hong Kong's regional government are now offences under Article 29
    • Damaging public transport facilities - which often happened during the 2019 protests - can be considered terrorism
    • The law can also be broken from abroad by non-residents under Article 38, and this could mean that foreigners could be arrested on arrival in Hong Kong if they are suspected of breaking the new law
    • Some trials will be heard behind closed doors

    Beijing will also have power over how the law should be interpreted, and not any Hong Kong judicial or policy body. If the law conflicts with any Hong Kong law, the Beijing law takes priority.

  5. Live coverage beginspublished at 11:27 British Summer Time 1 July 2020

    Protests in Hong KongImage source, Reuters

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of fresh protests in Hong Kong after China imposed a new security law on the territory.

    Here is a summary of key developments so far:

    • Police have used water cannon and pepper spray to disperse hundreds of protesters. Shops have reportedly been damaged in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
    • At least 180 arrests have been made - seven related to the new law, local media report. One man was detained for holding up a banner advocating Hong Kong's independence
    • Police have been raising a new purple-coloured flag warning protesters that their behaviour could break the new security law
    • The protests come as Hong Kong marks 23 years since its handover from British to Chinese rule
    • There has been widespread international criticism of the new law, which opponents say erodes freedoms