China presses ahead with Hong Kong security bill over global outcry

Beijing undeterred by G-7 statement and Washington's Uighur sanctions

A protester waves a flag at a Hong Kong mall on June 12. There is concern that the proposed national security law will be used to crack down on pro-democracy protests in the city. © Reuters

TAKESHI KIHARA and TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writers

June 19, 2020 02:12 JST

HONG KONG/BEIJING -- China's top legislature began deliberating Thursday a controversial national security law for Hong Kong that has drawn the "grave concern" of the Group of Seven nations.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the core organ of the Chinese parliament, will discuss the bill over a three-day session through Saturday. The draft proposed to criminalize acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.