China parliament approves Hong Kong security bill as tensions with U.S. rise
Source: Reuters
MAY 28, 2020 / 2:05 AM
HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s parliament approved a decision on Thursday to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that democracy activists in the city and Western countries fear could jeopardise its special autonomy and freedoms.
China says the legislation will be aimed at tackling secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city but the plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months.
Riot police were out in force in Hong Kong as its legislators debated another piece of legislation, a bill that would criminalise disrespect of China’s national anthem, while the United States piled on pressure aimed at preserving the city’s autonomy.
The Chinese government’s security law for the city is fuelling fears in Hong Kong and beyond that Beijing is imposing its authority and eroding the high degree of autonomy the former British colony has enjoyed under a “one country, two systems” formula since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/china-parliament-approves-hong-kong-security-bill-as-tensions-with-u-s-rise-idUSKBN2340FZ?il=0
Wasn't the "50 years of autonomy" deal negotiated by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government?
