Hong Kong Protests & China's National Security Laws Explained

For the past year, there have been regular protests on the streets of Hong Kong with many locals worried about the growing influence of China.

Now, China’s government has passed new national security laws in Hong Kong.

They’ll allow China’s government to punish what it sees as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with a penalty of up to life in prison.

China’s government says these are really serious crimes and it’s just trying to keep Hong Kong safe and China united, but a lot of people are worried these new laws will be used to limit Hong Kongers’ freedoms and target protesters, activists, journalists and even people who criticise the Chinese government online.

Countries around the world have called on China to reconsider its national security laws.

Some people in Hong Kong have started deleting or clearing their social media and some pro-democracy groups, including Joshua Wong’s, have disbanded.

Hong Kong is a part of China, but it’s a Special Administrative Region until 2047, which means it has its own flag, currency, laws and government.

There are still 27 years to go before Hong Kong's special status ends, but activists and experts are worried that Hong Kong will lose a lot of its autonomy well before then.

And they say if protesters are silenced, it will be up to the international community to speak on their behalf.
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