On Tuesday, Beijing adopted a new national security law for Hong Kong. It comes in the wake of several years of continued social unrest beginning with the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the anti-extradition movements in 2019.
The mass movements, while mostly peaceful, included violence and vandalism. They also severely impacted the business community, socio-economic stability and Hong Kong’s previously sterling reputation for a business climate that was second to none.
Under the guise of national security and preserving order in Hong Kong, the new law seeks to bring stability to the economy and business environment in Hong Kong by criminalizing acts that threaten social (and national) stability. These have been labelled subversion, secession and terrorism.