Hong Kong's Chief Executive Announces Plans for New National Security Law

The proposed Article 23 legislation expands on Beijing's 2020 law, covering offenses including treason and theft of state secrets amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee has announced plans to enact a new national security law, expanding on Beijing's 2020 law that effectively curtailed dissent in the city.
The proposed legislation, known as Article 23, will cover offenses including treason, theft of state secrets, espionage, and external interference.
Authorities have cited rising geopolitical tensions and the threat of foreign influence as reasons for the urgency of the new law.
The proposed law has sparked concerns over the broad and vague definition of 'state secrets', potentially encompassing a wide range of information related to both Hong Kong and China.
Despite the anticipated backlash from critics, the law is expected to pass easily due to the transformed political landscape in Hong Kong, with opposition politicians and activists either in jail or exile.