(Adnkronos) – It is mandatory to provide mobile phone and PC passwords to the Police. Or risk prison. This is happening in Hong Kong where officers can ask for ‘secret codes’ from anyone suspected of violating the controversial “national security” law, enacted in 2020 by Beijing for the former British colony, which is increasingly within China’s orbit. Those who refuse, explains the BBC, risk up to a year in prison and a fine equivalent to over 11,000 euros. And those who provide “false or misleading information” risk up to three years behind bars.
As of today, amendments to a regulation within the framework of the controversial law come into force in Hong Kong. Introduced after the wave of pro-democracy protests in 2019, it concerns a series of crimes – vaguely defined, according to observers – ranging from secession to terrorism, from subversion to collusion with foreign forces, and which in some cases provides for closed-door trials. Additional “national security” regulations have also been in force for two years.
And the new amendments allow for the seizure of anything authorities deem to have “subversive intent.” All of this was announced by Chief Executive John Lee, bypassing LegCo, Hong Kong’s legislative council, the British network highlights. The changes ensure that “activities detrimental to national security can be effectively prevented, suppressed, and punished” while also ensuring that “the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations are adequately protected,” say Hong Kong authorities.
In February, based on the “national security” law, Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and former director of a newspaper symbolic of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy front, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
