HONG KONG — The man nicknamed Hong Kong’s “Father of Democracy” said Friday that Beijing is trying to take control of the semi-autonomous city with…
HONG KONG —
The man nicknamed Hong Kong’s “Father of Democracy” said Friday that Beijing is trying to take control of the semi-autonomous city with an impending national security law, but added that violent protest is not the answer.
“This is clearly a pretext for Beijing to assert comprehensive control over Hong Kong, as they said they would six years ago,” longtime activist and former lawmaker Martin Lee said in an interview.
The national security law, which could be approved in Beijing this weekend, is aimed at curbing secessionist, subversive, terrorist and foreign interference that Beijing says fueled the monthslong anti-government protests in Hong Kong. The law would be enacted by the central government, bypassing the city’s legislature.
“The end of Hong Kong as we know it, as an international city, as a free port and with all our freedoms protected by our independent court — this could well disappear,” Lee said.
He said he hoped that Beijing will keep to its promise and abide by the so-called “one country, two systems” framework, where “Hong Kong people will rule Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.
