Beijing to gain sweeping power under Hong Kong security law

Special session called for June 28-30 for possible vote

Chinese state-security agencies would be able to exercise jurisdiction over "certain circumstances," according to Xinhua News Agency © Reuters

MICHELLE CHAN, Nikkei staff writer

June 21, 2020 00:36 JST

Updated on June 21, 2020 15:43 JST

HONG KONG -- China's new security law for Hong Kong will let Beijing overrule the city's legal system by giving the central government jurisdiction over cases under "certain circumstances," according to details released Saturday.

While the exact wording remains unknown, the draft legislation stipulates that judges handling national security court cases shall be appointed by Hong Kong's leader, rather than by the city's chief justice, who normally assigns judges for criminal cases, Beijing's official Xinhua News Agency reported.