China says Hong Kong must hold national security line

STORY: China's top official on Hong Kong affairs said on Monday (April 15) the city should "tightly hold" onto the bottom line of national security to safeguard development.

The director of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, spoke at a ceremony for the city's annual national security education day, just weeks after Hong Kong enacted a new national security law, also known as article 23.

“To achieve governance and prosperity, we need to firmly uphold the bottom line of national security in order to safeguard Hong Kong's high-quality development."

Article 23 updates or introduces new laws to prohibit treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets and espionage, with jail terms up to life imprisonment.

Some foreign governments, including the U.S. and Britain have criticized the new law as a fresh tool for authorities to clamp down on dissent.

The legislation adds to another national security law China directly imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy protests the year before.

"The damage caused to Hong Kong by the turmoil in 2019 remains a pain in our hearts, and we will never forget it.”

Xia emphasized that the law posed no threat to investors.

"For the vast majority of Hong Kong citizens and foreign investors, this law is the guardian of their rights, freedoms, properties, and investments.”

The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong said on Saturday (April 13) that visitors to the city should "exercise increased caution".

The State Department is also updating its travel advisory given the new national security legislation.

174 people and five companies have been charged under the national security law so far, including Joshua Wong and prominent China critic and businessman Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial and could face life imprisonment.

Liberal media outlets and civil society groups have been shut down.