SCMP Conversations: National Security Law

The passing of China’s new national security law for Hong Kong has been met with a multitude of confusion and anxiety, along with myriad questions, as business leaders, international government officials, diplomats, academics and local citizens struggle to conceptualise what the law ultimately means for the future of Hong Kong and how its enactment may reverberate across the globe. With the passing of the law seen primarily as a response to unrest that erupted across Hong Kong last year, many have expressed concern that Hong Kong’s autonomy has been taken away, and along with it the principle of “One Country Two Systems”. Hong Kong and Beijing officials, however, have provided assurances to the public that the law is purely meant to restore “prosperity” and “stability” to a city that was in the midst of unrest — stating that the law should only impact a very small minority. Over the course of three webinars, our National Security Law series has brought together corporate leaders, lawmakers, diplomats and academics to dive deep into answering questions to these concerns, while discussing what the law means for the future of Hong Kong and how it will impact global trade, economics and diplomacy.