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Hong Kong national security law
ChinaPolitics

Hong Kong national security law’s long-arm jurisdiction ‘extraordinary and chilling’

  • It goes further than mainland Chinese legislation and could affect the city’s status as an international financial centre, according to legal experts
  • But they say pursuing offences committed outside Hong Kong may be difficult

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The controversial national security law came into force in Hong Kong late on Tuesday night. Photo: Felix Wong
Jun MaiandSarah Zheng
The national security law that Beijing has imposed on Hong Kong has raised concerns among legal experts for its long-arm jurisdiction that covers offences outside the city.
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They say that overreach is “chilling” and goes further than the mainland Chinese law, and that it could affect Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre – though prosecuting offences beyond the city will be difficult.

The controversial legislation came into force late on Tuesday night, after it was unanimously passed by Beijing’s top legislative body and signed into law by President Xi Jinping.

The law prohibits secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security, with a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Hong Kong national security law official English version:

Article 38 covers offences by non-permanent residents of Hong Kong outside the city. The law also applies to Hong Kong permanent residents, organisations and companies set up in Hong Kong, even when an offence is committed outside the city. And it applies to offences committed on a vessel or aircraft registered in Hong Kong.

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