Hong Kong: final days of freedom?

by Steven Knipp

Like a giant anaconda hanging from a chandelier over Hong Kong for years, the Chinese Communist Party has finally crashed down onto 7.6 million Hongkongers. It happened on June 30, one hour before midnight.

The anaconda analogy in not excessive; the Communist Party’s power is immense, while its predatory plan for the city is fearsome. Forcing aside the city’s own fragile Legislative Council, the Party announced the immediate installation of a sweeping set of new “National Security Laws.” The shockingly draconian decrees, scripted  in Beijing, claim to only target acts of “subversion,” “secession from China,” “terrorism” and “collusion with foreign powers.” The new laws, however, are incredibly vague, so they can be easily used to crush any further legitimate legal resistance to Beijing’s policies, regardless of how peaceful that opposition is.

Then on 8 July, Beijing opened the new multi-storied headquarters building for China’s Public Security Bureau. Grandly titled the ‘Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong,’ the building was a four star hotel. As part of these new laws, the CCP’s secret security police have full authority to operate in Hong Kong, with the twin power to both investigate and prosecute crimes against “China’s national security.” And for those cases deemed “politically sensitive”, trials will be moved across the border into mainland China... where there will be no jurors or media coverage.

Even more worrying: both the mainland security agencies and the local Hong Kong police will be able to conduct searches on private property. They will also be able to demand immediate access to all cell phones, home or office computers and private passwords for all social media accounts. And all without a warrant. In the previous 18 months, close to 10,000 arrests have been made during street protests, where marchers often totalled more than a million. Those arrested included airline pilots, schoolteachers, civil servants, college professors, journalists, flight attendants and taxi drivers. And students as young as 12. More arrests are anticipated but with penalties far more severe, including lifelong prison terms.

A spine-chilling wave of fear—which some are calling “white terror”— is spreading across this valiant and vibrant city. Senior civil servants have been told they must sign ‘loyalty oaths.’ Librarians have pulled certain books from their shelves. History teachers are being warned that their future lessons must be “more patriotic,” while foreign journalists have been notified they could face expulsion if they “cross the line.”

Millions of fearful young people hope to scrub their digital footprints by deleting all cell phone messages and scouring their Facebook accounts. Others have dropped WhatsApp, replacing it with other apps that offer more secure systems with encryption on both sides and messages that can be deleted within seconds of being sent... or received. Long-time residents of this amazing modern-day Genoa now dread that its days of genuine freedom may be numbered.