On March 29, Hong Kong legislators unanimously approved the Safeguarding National Security Bill, also known as Article 23. This new law grants the government sweeping powers to combat various forms of dissent under the guise of protecting national security. It reinforces the National Security Law (NSL) that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong on June 30, 2020. The new law prohibits seven types of activities that Hong Kong officials intend to declare as ‘offenses’, under vague and expansive provisions which will criminalize the peaceful exercise of human rights. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) urges the government of Hong Kong to either repeal or amend both the NSL 2020 and Article 23 to ensure their alignment with international human rights standards.

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