Two Sessions 2020: Hong Kong national security law will only target ‘small group of people’, Vice-Premier Han Zheng says as Beijing hits back at critics

Faced with international criticism, office of China’s foreign ministry in city hits out at certain countries for making ‘irresponsible comments’ about law

Ex-leader CY Leung says Beijing could authorise Hong Kong police to establish domestic intelligence agency similar to colonial-era Special Branch

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The resolution on a national security law for Hong Kong was unveiled on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:23pm, 23 May 2020Updated: 2:03am, 24 May 2020

A new national security law tailor-made for Hong Kong will only target “a small group of people” to plug a legal loophole exposed by violent anti-government protests in the city and will not affect the livelihood of ordinary citizens, Vice-Premier Han Zheng has assured local deputies to Beijing’s top advisory body.

Faced with criticism from the international community, the office of China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong hit out at certain countries for making “irresponsible comments” about the legislation.

Protesters, meanwhile, vowed more demonstrations on Sunday, with police sources saying that about 6,000 riot officers would be on standby to deal with any flare-ups.

Han’s remarks came as more details of the enforcement mechanism emerged, with a former chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, now a state leader, saying Beijing could authorise Hong Kong police to establish a domestic intelligence agency similar to the colonial-era Special Branch. A source close to Beijing said offenders of the new law would face open trial in Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam vows ‘full support’ for national security law

A day after Beijing unveiled a resolution at the opening of its annual legislative sessions to “prevent, frustrate and punish” threats to national security by outlawing acts of secession, subversion and terrorism in Hong Kong, Han, the state leader in charge of the city’s affairs, further explained the new law to members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in the capital during a 1½-hour meeting on Saturday morning.

The proposed law will bypass the city’s legislature. It will require the Hong Kong government to set up new institutions to safeguard sovereignty and allow mainland agencies to operate in the city when needed.