July events of the 2019–2020 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong
The month of July 2020 in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests began with a turning point in the evolution of the protests, brought about by the Hong Kong national security law. The law, which had been passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China on 30 June and come into effect on the same day, was widely seen as having the purpose of curbing opposition, in a broad sense, against the Chinese Communist Party in the city. The law had direct relevance to the protests, as it prescribes harsh penalties for the tactics that protesters had commonly used. Nevertheless, sizeable protests erupted throughout the city on occasion of the 1 July protests the next day, resulting in about 370 arrests, including at least ten on charges under the new law. The Hong Kong government, faced with the task of implementing a law that had been drafted and promulgated without substantial involvement by its own officials, was seen widely, including in the academic and media sectors, as being unable to draw a clear demarcation line between which acts would constitute punishable offences under the law, and which would not. The vagueness of the law, while refused by the city's police chief, was seen by pro-democrats and observers as a deliberate device to amplify its deterrence effect.
While the law immediately created a chilling effect, smaller protests continued into the month. During these, protesters sometimes used inventive means to adapt, such as holding up blank sheets of paper, or singing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong with numbers instead of lyrics. The month ended with major suppression activities by the local government, including the arrest of four student activists and a ban on twelve pan-democratic candidates for the legislative council election in September. In justifying the disqualifications, the Hong Kong government stated that the candidates had intended to breach the national security law once elected. On 31 July, the Hong Kong government announced that the election would be deferred by a year due to the worsening of the COVID-19 crisis.
Already before the disqualifications of opposition candidates, there were calls by pro-democrats in Hong Kong and their sympathizers abroad for increasing international pressure on China to change its politics regarding Hong Kong. Furthermore, there were calls on Western countries to provide safe havens for protesters through temporary residence and to create pathways for immigration. Several Western countries took steps to respond to the latter requests, as the United Kingdom had already done earlier, with these steps being sharply criticized by mainland Chinese officials. In relation to non-governmental activism, it was noted internationally that the security law expressly states (in its Article 38) that it also applies to non-Hong Kong permanent residents located outside of Hong Kong.
Events.
1 July.
National Security Law comes into effect.
The Hong Kong national security law came into effect 23:00 on 30 June, which criminalized advocating "secession", "subversion", "terrorism", and "collusion" of the Chinese government. Police continued to use the coronavirus law, which aimed at discouraging public assembly, to ban the annual July 1 march.
Marches against National Security Law.
Despite police ban, tens of thousands of protesters showed up, alongside heavy police presence, to Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Tin Hau and lingered in the area for almost six hours to voice their objection against the newly implemented national security law. Police used a water cannon to disperse protesters.
Police made more than 370 arrests, of which it said 10 were for offences related to the new national security law. Authorities said that seven police officers were injured, with one having been stabbed in the arm while taking arrest action. Police condemned the stabbing and said that no by-standers had come forward to help the stabbed officer. In the evening, a person suspected of having perpetrated the stabbing was escorted off a flight bound for London at Chek Lap Kok Airport by airport police.
An anonymous woman who held up a blank sheet of paper near a police cordon gained wider attention. This method of protest, not new in itself, was taken up by other protesters in the following days to avoid the use of the slogan Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times which the government had said was illegal, and in 2022 during protests triggered by COVID-19 restrictions in mainland China, which led the latter to be colloquially referenced as White Paper Protests.
UK response to the National Security Law.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared in the House of Commons that the Hong Kong National Security Law was a "clear and serious breach" of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Johnson also announced plans to extend UK residency rights to British National (Overseas) of Hong Kong passport holders and their dependents who would be permitted to apply for five-year visas to reside in the UK, including the right to work and study without restrictions. After five years they can, under normal British nationality law, apply for settled status and then subsequently for citizenship.
2 July.
International responses.
The United States Congress unanimously passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act after Senate approval seven days earlier, on 25 June.
The Australian government began drafting a Hong Kong safe haven pathway for pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that offering support to threatened Hong Kong people was "very consistent with who we are as a people and very consistent practically with the views that we've expressed."
Other developments.
Democracy activist Nathan Law announced that he had left Hong Kong for an undisclosed location, out of safety concerns. Days later it became known that he was in London.
3 July.
Hong Kong government actions.
A man arrested on 1 July became the first person being charged of "breaching the national security law", articles 21 and 22 and of terrorism, article 24.
The Hong Kong Education Bureau sent a late night notice to all schools in Hong Kong demanding that the newly enacted national security legislation will be taught and enforced in all public and private schools, including special education schools, in every single grade level starting in Kindergarten. The Bureau will support developing curriculum and assessment, the notice stated, and requests all stake holders – educators, administrators, social workers – work together to "enhance national identity".
International response against National Security Law.
The government of Canada announced that it would suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in response to the provisions of the Hong Kong national security law. Furthermore, Canada is considering a "pathway to citizenship", a priority point system, to accept young (18–23 years old), university-bound students who have been participating in the pro-democracy protests. The eligibility of applicants of the scheme could be limited to those between the age of 18–35.
Japanese legislators were asking the Japanese government to cancel the summit and state visit of Xi Jinping. The draft resolution stated that Japan should not ignore the worsening situation and should take a stance to show support to the Hong Kong pro-democracy citizens.
A total of 27 countries' governments condemned the national security law: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Global climate and human rights advocacy group NOW! launched #FridaysForFreedom in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Participants are asked to stand in front of their country's Chinese embassy and consulate with related Hong Kong signage.
International support for National Security Law.
At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, 53 countries voiced their support for the national security law, with 27 countries voicing opposition. The list of supporting countries as uncovered by Axios comprised: China, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, UAE, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Other developments.
The State Council of China appointed Zheng Yanxiong as director of the National Security Office.
4 July.
Hong Kong public libraries censor pro-democracy literature.
Freedom of press, of publication, and of information are guaranteed by Hong Kong Basic Law Article 27, but according to multiple newspapers and confirmed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) of Hong Kong in a query by RTHK, various libraries in Hong Kong have begun reviewing their collections for items deemed violating the national security law. Such books will not be available on the catalog for reference or for borrowing in the meantime. An AFP reporter was unable to locate books written by activist Joshua Wong, pro-democratic lawmaker Tanya Chan and local scholar Chin Wan at a local library branch in the afternoon of 4 July. The library staff said that the collection of books was not large, and that not all books by those authors involved are reviewed. The RTHK article rendered a statement by LCSD which said that the collections of the Hong Kong Public Library must comply with the provisions of and not violate Hong Kong laws. However, according to the IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994 mentioned in the LCSD Public Library page, the collections and services of public libraries "should not be subject to any ideological, political or religious censorship, [...]". In addition to the possibility of violating the Manifesto, foreign media were also alarmed by the removal of such books and expressed concerns that Hong Kong's speech and academic freedom would be under pressure. In fact, although many university presidents had jointly announced support for the national security law on 1 June, a month before the details were announced, and although they vowed to protect academic freedom at the universities, many university professors expressed concern when interviewed by Science magazine. As for local bookstores, the books removed from the library are still on sale in parts of Hong Kong. In the bookstores of Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, some bookstore staff explained that these books were older and may only have fewer reprints. In one of the bookstores in Mong Kok, a collection of "Rebellion under Tyranny" published by the Chinese Christian Church, the words "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" on the back cover of the book were covered by adhesive tape.
DNA samples taken from arrestees.
South China Morning Post reported that the 10 individuals arrested and charged of violating the newly enacted national security law have had their hair and saliva DNA samples taken by the police. Citing Police Force Ordinance 59C(2a), police claimed it is within the law that they collect these 10 arrestees' DNA samples. However, 59C states that the police is only authorized to collect non-intimate samples when two conditions are simultaneously met: one, that they suspect that "the person from whom the non-intimate sample is to be taken has committed a serious arrestable offence", and two, that they believe "the sample will tend to confirm or disprove the commission of the offence by that person"[59C(2b)] It is unclear how the possessions of pro-democracy verbiage flags, flyers, and stickers can be classified as "serious arrestable offense", nor was it necessary to prove that the alleged offence was committed by the person (from whom the DNA sample was taken) in this case. According to Hong Kong lawyer Lawrence Lok Ying-kam who specializes in criminal cases, Hong Kong police is not authorized to take sample in this case, and he speculated that the main purpose of extracting DNA is to intimidate the arrestees.
5 July.
Discrepancies between Chinese and English versions of the national security law.
The Official Languages Ordinance of Hong Kong has always granted equal legal status to legislation in both Chinese and English. When the Chinese version of the National Security Law passed on 30 June in Beijing, there was no complete, Hong Kong official English version immediately available on the government website; only a 3-paragraph on the first page of the Chinese version footnoting the official English name of the law was gazetted on the website, and a separate English version published via GoogleDoc on Xinhua official website. Discrepancies between the two versions begin to surface after days of analyzing and comparing the two. Lawyer Alan Wong Hok-ming pointed out a few "poor translations" from article 9, 10, and 29, for example, where the word "Universities" were added