Hong Kong Legislators Unanimously Pass Second National Security Law, Tightening Government Control

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approved a new national security law that grants the government more power to quash dissent, expanding authorities' ability to prosecute citizens for offenses related to national security. Critics worry the law will further erode civil liberties promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The legislation, rushed through by Beijing loyalists in the Legislative Council, imposes stringent penalties for a wide range of actions deemed threats to national security, with the most severe offenses punishable by life imprisonment. The accelerated adoption of the law has drawn international criticism, with concerns raised about its impact on human rights and the city's viability for conducting global business.