In spite of massive criticism – Controversial law plans for Hong Kong gebilligtDer Chinese people’s Congress has approved in spite of massive international criticism of plans for a controversial security law in Hong Kong.red/sda0 comment protesters against the police – the decision of the people’s Congress is likely to inflame the mood in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters
Despite massive international criticism of China’s people’s Congress has the plans for a controversial security law in Hong Kong approved.
at The conclusion of their annual meeting, the members of the Ombudsman the Standing Committee of the Parliament to adopt the law on the protection of national security in China’s special administrative region.
The law bypasses Hong Kong’s Parliament, and is directed against activities that were viewed as subversive or separatist. The project would be the so far most extensive intervention in the autonomy of the former British crown colony, where there were over months strong china-critical demonstrations. Hong Kong has been governed since the return to China in 1997, according to the principle of “one country, two systems” as an independent territory.
The plans to push international to sharp criticism. The Federal government has acted very concerned, the US is considering sanctions. So the US government holds the advantageous special status for Hong Kong because of the increasing interference of China in the Autonomous metropolis is no longer justified, as US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo reported. For Hong Kong companies and citizens, a lot is at stake – higher duties to the issuing of visas for travel to the United States.
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the importance of China’s major financial location might be in danger. Details are still unclear.
The law is also opposed to foreign interference. To enforce, if necessary, “even Chinese security organs are to be used” in Hong Kong. The Pro-democracy forces fear that they will be the target of the law. The Asian economic metropolis experienced since the last week of the summer for a week of demonstrations against the Beijing government, the police brutality at the protests and the growing influence of the Communist leadership.
The proposed law “will allow the Chinese government much greater access to people and organizations in Hong Kong,” said Katja in Hausen from the China Institute Merics in Berlin. There is the “legitimate fear” that freedom of expression and freedom of the press, the rule of law and civil society, but also international exchange of information are massively restricted.
The approximately 2900 members in the Great hall of the people also approved the budget with a strong increase of the military budget by 6.6 percent. To stimulate the economy in the Corona-crisis, the government plans in the case of falling revenue, higher government spending, new bonds, as well as a reduction of taxes and duties. The budget deficit is expected to rise over the critical threshold of three percent to more than 3.6 percent. The freely elected Chinese Parliament has rejected in its history, never a template.
No target for the Chinese economy
the fear Of a too large increase of the debt, and because of the continuing uncertainties, the measures to stimulate the world’s second largest economy from falling according to experts, lower than after the 2008 global financial crisis. For the first time in almost two decades, the government omitted because of the uncertainties, is also a target for the Chinese economy. It was broke in the first quarter to 6.8 percent. In the previous year the growth amounted to 6.1 percent, within the target of 6.0 to 6.5 percent.
The target otherwise serves as a framework for the economic plans of the often very plan of economically active provinces and municipalities. China’s state and party chief Xi Jinping explained in discussions with members, that a specific growth target could lead this year to a lot of the stimulus measures are taken. Apparently, the government wants to be able to add, if the economy worsens crisis. The head of government Li Keqiang had specified that nine million new Jobs should be created. Around three percent growth would be, according to expert view, necessary.
Because of the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the annual meeting had to be postponed in March – for the first time in the recent history of the people’s Republic. By the session was rescheduled, demonstrated to China that it has the Virus under control. However, strict precautions have been taken measures. The approximately 2900 members were tested at least twice to Sars-CoV-2. Many travelled in special trains, and not with the normal train or the plane to. The meeting, which is usually 10-12 days, was shortened to a week.
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