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A28 WORLD NEWS
Friday 19 June 2020
China passes draft of controversial Hong Kong security law

BEIJING (AP) — China's leg- curity issues from money
islature on Thursday passed laundering to terrorism and
a draft of a national secu- cybercrime. That leaves
rity bill for Hong Kong that the proposed legislation
has been strongly criticized to deal with vaguely de-
as undermining the semi- fined crimes of a highly po-
autonomous territory's legal litical nature along the lines
and political institutions. found in mainland China's
The National People's Con- Communist Party-dominat-
gress' Standing Commit- ed system.
tee reviewed the bill that Earlier this month, Hong
covers four categories of Kong's legislature ap-
crimes: succession, subver- proved a contentious bill
sion of state power, local making it illegal to insult the
terrorist activities, and col- Chinese national anthem
laborating with foreign or after pro-democracy law-
external foreign forces to makers boycotted the vote
endanger national security. out of protest.
No details on the definitions Senior opposition figures
of those crimes or the ap- have also been arrested for
plicable punishments were taking part in demonstra-
given. It also wasn't clear tions and questions have
when the law would be arisen over whether the na-
passed in its final version, al- Pro-Hong Kong demonstrators shout slogans during a protest at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, tional security legislation will
though Beijing has repeat- Tuesday, June 16, 2020. be used to disqualify pro-
edly said it is determined Associated Press democracy candidates in
to press ahead despite the September's elections for
criticism. law if passed will revoke as the territory's constitu- at a daily briefing. "China's the Beijing-controlled Legis-
The congress moved to en- some of the special privi- tion. determination in promoting lative Council.
act the legislation at the leges it grants to Hong "It would jeopardize the the national security law in Hong Kong activist Joshua
national level after Hong Kong after the former British system which has allowed Hong Kong is unwavering." Wong said he expected
Kong's own Legislative colony was handed over Hong Kong to flourish and In Berlin on Thursday, Ger- the law would bring nega-
Council was unable to do to China in 1997. Britain has made it a success over man Chancellor Angela tive repercussions for peo-
so because of strong lo- said it will offer passports many years," they said. Merkel called for an "open ple like him who hold con-
cal opposition. Critics say and a path to citizenship to "Open debate, consulta- dialogue" between Europe trarian views.
it could severely limit free as many as 3 million Hong tion with stakeholders, and and China on an invest- Opposing the law "could
speech and opposition po- Kong residents. Beijing has respect for protected rights ment agreement, climate be my last testimony (while)
litical activity. denounced the moves as and freedoms in Hong change and Africa "but I am still free," Wong said
Legal experts say Beijing's interference in its affairs. Kong are essential." also on questions of the Thursday during an on-
justifications for the law are On Wednesday, the Group China's Foreign Ministry rule of law and human line event to promote de-
highly debatable. of Seven leading econo- condemned the G-7 state- rights, and not least the fu- mocracy and the market
China acted following mies called on China to re- ment, accusing the group ture of Hong Kong, where economy held in Copen-
widespread and some- consider its plans in a joint of "speaking and pointing we are concerned that the hagen, Denmark. "Our long
times violent anti-govern- statement voicing "grave fingers freely at Hong Kong important principle of 'one march to democracy will
ment protests in the territory concern regarding China's affairs." country, two systems' is be- be forced into a prolonged
last year that Beijing saw as decision to impose a na- "We strongly deplore and ing hollowed out more and period of crackdown," said
a dangerous campaign to tional security law on Hong firmly oppose the joint more." Wong, who rose to promi-
split Hong Kong from the Kong," adding that it would statement issued by the The Asian financial hub's nence as a student leader
rest of the country. breach Beijing's interna- G-7 foreign ministers," the highly respected legal during pro-democracy
The U.S. has said that the tional commitments as well ministry spokesperson said system already covers se- demonstrations in 2014. q
Japan's ex-justice minister arrested in vote-buying case

By MARI YAMAGUCHI reason. Their arrest came a day af-
Associated Press Local media including ter the parliamentary ses-
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Kyodo News reported the sion ended, when both no
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's arrest was over allegations longer had immunity.
former justice minister and that the couple offered mil- While the couple left Abe's
the minister's lawmaker lions of yen in cash to doz- ruling Liberal Democrat-
wife were arrested Thurs- ens of voters ahead of the ic Party earlier this week,
day over allegations they 2019 upper house election there are still questions
engaged in vote buying in which Anri Kawai won a about whether party elec-
during last year's election, seat. tion funds were used in the
officials and local media The couple has denied any alleged vote-buying.
said. wrongdoing. The couple's arrest comes
The Tokyo Public Prosecu- Katsuyuki Kawai served as as Abe's government is al-
tors Office said it arrested justice minister for only a ready facing public criti-
the former minister, Kat- month from last Septem- cism over its handling of
In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, Japan's Justice Minister Kat-
suyuki Kawai speaks during a press conference at the prime suyuki Kawai, and his wife, ber, resigning when the al- the coronavirus pandemic
minister's official residence in Tokyo. Anri Kawai, though it did legations surfaced but has and its devastating eco-
Associated Press not immediately give a remained as lawmaker. nomic impact.q