Reinforcement of rule of law in HK

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously passed a bill mandated by Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong on Tuesday, which will take effect on Saturday.

By fulfilling a constitutional obligation, the move marks the city taking another key step forward in plugging the loopholes in its legal system that had long been used by some to threaten national security in the city.

The bill, also known as Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, seeks to prohibit five acts that endanger national security while updating provisions within existing laws. It was the unrest that convulsed Hong Kong in 2019, which was orchestrated by external forces with the help of their local pawns, that prompted the legislative and executive bodies of the special administrative region to accelerate the drafting and review procedures of the bill. Only 50 days separated the start of the public consultation and Tuesday's passing of the bill.