Hong Kong Moves to Implement Article 23 National Security Law

The Hong Kong Chamber of Listed Companies supports the HKSAR Government's public consultation on local legislation to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law. The proposed law will outlaw five new types of offenses and will likely state the maximum penalties for these offenses. The legislation aims to address national security risks faced by Hong Kong, which include acts that endangered national security during the period of social unrest in 2019. Experts fear the new law will crush what remains of freedom in the city and spook foreign businesses, and Beijing-controlled Hong Kong authorities are seeking to pass Article 23 to further tighten control.