Looming national security laws raise fresh fears for Hong Kong's freedomsHONG KONG (Reuters) - Amid calls from Hong Kong s pro-Beijing elite for sweeping new national security laws, government advisers and lawyers say the legislation is likely to be tougher than proposals shelved 14 years ago, raising fears about the city s cherished freedoms. Those demanding urgency for the long-delayed Article 23 are using a fledgling independence movement in the former British colony as justification   even though the independence debate would have been allowed when Article 23 was first proposed in 2003. Lawyers, diplomats and activists fear the new pressure could lead to legal  overkill  in an open city already struggling with increased interference from Beijing s Communist Party rulers.  We can see an intolerance from the central authorities over any kind of independence discussion,  said Simon Young, a professor at the University of Hong Kong law school.  In this atmosphere, there is a concern that we could end up with something that criminalizes even the advocacy of independence, something that goes much further and is tougher than the previous proposals.   Kevin Yam, of Hong Kong s Progressive Lawyers Group, said it was vital to win the argument against independence by persuasion and debate, rather than a sweeping new law that curbs freedoms.  If the government goes too far, it will undoubtedly have a chilling impact on Hong Kong,  he said.  This is of great concern.  The government, in response to Reuters  questions, did not provide information on when or how it would kick-start legislation, but said it  will seek to create a favorable social environment for the community to handle this constitutional obligation ... in a positive manner.  Hong Kong, a free-wheeling global financial hub, has been ruled under a  one country, two systems  formula since Britain handed it back to China in 1997, guaranteeing freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of expression. Those freedoms are outlined in the Basic Law, a mini-constitution that also demands the city pass its own law covering treason, secession and subversion against Beijing. But many see Beijing increasingly involved in Hong Kong s affairs, such as the shadowy detention in 2015 of five Hong Kong booksellers who sold gossipy material critical of Beijing, and a legal interpretation from the Chinese parliament that eventually led to the disqualification of six democratically elected lawmakers. The calls to enact Article 23 follow that pattern, they say. Previous government proposals outlawed incitement to violence but sought to protect political debate. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest against Article 23 in 2003, forcing the government to shelve it. Months-long pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 further heightened political sensitivities surrounding the legislation, and the government has not set a firm timetable to re-introduce it. But now pressure is mounting on Hong Kong to push through the laws after mainland officials expressed concerns in both public and private meetings. Senior Chinese parliamentarian Li Fei used a visit to Hong Kong last week to warn that Article 23 was a  duty that can t be shirked  while the chief of China s Liaison Office in the city also called for action.  Many risks and potential hazards that would affect or even threaten national sovereignty, security and developmental interests have not been effectively eliminated or prevented,  Liaison Office chief and Communist Party Central Committee member Wang Zhimin told pro-establishment lawmakers, according to his office s website. Chinese President Xi Jinping took what some saw as a harder line on Hong Kong s future during his visit in July to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover from the British. Challenges and threats to China s sovereignty and power, or the use of Hong Kong as a base for infiltration and sabotage, were acts that crossed  the red line  and were  absolutely impermissible , Xi said. Two members of Hong Kong s executive council - effectively the cabinet of leader Carrie Lam - have told Reuters that the 2003 bill would almost certainly have to be updated to reflect the fresh concerns. The city s independence movement, which has largely gone underground after most of its young leaders were charged for their roles in various protests, did not exist in 2003. Executive Council member Regina Ip - who pushed the previous bill as Hong Kong s then-security chief - said she could not say if the old proposals were sufficient in 2017.  We must review any proposed legislation against the evolving security situation... that is only natural,  she said. Her colleague and moderate democrat Ronny Tong said he believed, realistically, any new laws could draw the line at organized efforts to promote independence.  If the last version were to be passed, in fact it would not stop ... what is done by the students, because they are not advocating violence,  he said.  Hong Kong people are getting more and more intolerant of Beijing, and they (Chinese rulers) don t like that at all. Even short of independence, they feel that something needs to be done ... to try to make people more respectful to Beijing.    worldnews
looming national security laws raise fresh fears hong kong freedomshong kong reuters amid calls hong kong elite sweeping new national security laws government advisers lawyers say legislation likely tougher proposals shelved years ago raising fears city cherished freedoms those demanding urgency article using fledgling independence movement former british colony justification even though independence debate would allowed article first proposed lawyers diplomats activists fear new pressure could lead legal overkill open city already struggling increased interference beijing communist party rulers we see intolerance central authorities kind independence discussion said simon young professor university hong kong law school in atmosphere concern could end something criminalizes even advocacy independence something goes much tougher previous proposals kevin yam hong kong progressive lawyers group said vital win argument independence persuasion debate rather sweeping new law curb freedoms if government goes far undoubtedly chilling impact hong kong said this great concern the government response reuters questions provide information would legislation said seek create favorable social environment community handle constitutional obligation positive manner hong kong global financial hub ruled one country two systems formula since britain handed back china guaranteeing freedoms enjoyed mainland including independent judiciary freedom expression those freedoms outlined basic law also demands city pass law covering treason secession subversion beijing but many see beijing increasingly involved hong kong affairs shadowy detention five hong kong booksellers sold gossip material critical beijing legal interpretation chinese parliament eventually led disqualification six democratically elected lawmakers the calls enact article follow pattern say previous government proposals outlawed incitement violence sought protect political debate hundreds thousands took streets protest article forcing government shelves demonstrations heightened political sensibilities surrounding legislation government set firm timetable but pressure mounting hong kong push laws mainland officials expressed concerns public private meetings senior chinese parliamentarian li fei used visit hong kong last week warn article duty shared chief china liaison office city also called action many risks potential hazards would affect even threaten national sovereignty security developmental interests effectively eliminated prevented liaison office chief communist party central committee member wang chemin told lawmakers according office website chinese president xi winning took saw harder line hong kong future visit july mark anniversary handover british challenges threats china sovereignty power use hong kong base infiltration sabotage acts crossed red line absolutely permissible xi said two members hong kong executive council effectively cabinet leader carrie lam told reuters bill would almost certainly updated reflect fresh concerns the city independence movement largely gone underground young leaders charged roles various protests exist executive council member regina ip pushed previous bill hong kong chief said could say old proposals sufficient we must review proposed legislation evolving security situation natural said her colleague moderate democrat jonny tong said believed realistically new laws could draw line organized efforts promote independence if last version passed fact would stop done students advocating violence said hong kong people getting intolerant beijing chinese rulers like even short independence feel something needs done try make people respectful beijing worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Looming national security laws raise fresh fears for Hong Kong's freedomsHONG KONG (Reuters) - Amid calls from Hong Kong s pro-Beijing elite for sweeping new national security laws, government advisers and lawyers say the legislation is likely to be tougher than proposals shelved 14 years ago, raising fears about the city s cherished freedoms. Those demanding urgency for the long-delayed Article 23 are using a fledgling independence movement in the former British colony as justification   even though the independence debate would have been allowed when Article 23 was first proposed in 2003. Lawyers, diplomats and activists fear the new pressure could lead to legal  overkill  in an open city already struggling with increased interference from Beijing s Communist Party rulers.  We can see an intolerance from the central authorities over any kind of independence discussion,  said Simon Young, a professor at the University of Hong Kong law school.  In this atmosphere, there is a concern that we could end up with something that criminalizes even the advocacy of independence, something that goes much further and is tougher than the previous proposals.   Kevin Yam, of Hong Kong s Progressive Lawyers Group, said it was vital to win the argument against independence by persuasion and debate, rather than a sweeping new law that curbs freedoms.  If the government goes too far, it will undoubtedly have a chilling impact on Hong Kong,  he said.  This is of great concern.  The government, in response to Reuters  questions, did not provide information on when or how it would kick-start legislation, but said it  will seek to create a favorable social environment for the community to handle this constitutional obligation ... in a positive manner.  Hong Kong, a free-wheeling global financial hub, has been ruled under a  one country, two systems  formula since Britain handed it back to China in 1997, guaranteeing freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of expression. Those freedoms are outlined in the Basic Law, a mini-constitution that also demands the city pass its own law covering treason, secession and subversion against Beijing. But many see Beijing increasingly involved in Hong Kong s affairs, such as the shadowy detention in 2015 of five Hong Kong booksellers who sold gossipy material critical of Beijing, and a legal interpretation from the Chinese parliament that eventually led to the disqualification of six democratically elected lawmakers. The calls to enact Article 23 follow that pattern, they say. Previous government proposals outlawed incitement to violence but sought to protect political debate. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest against Article 23 in 2003, forcing the government to shelve it. Months-long pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 further heightened political sensitivities surrounding the legislation, and the government has not set a firm timetable to re-introduce it. But now pressure is mounting on Hong Kong to push through the laws after mainland officials expressed concerns in both public and private meetings. Senior Chinese parliamentarian Li Fei used a visit to Hong Kong last week to warn that Article 23 was a  duty that can t be shirked  while the chief of China s Liaison Office in the city also called for action.  Many risks and potential hazards that would affect or even threaten national sovereignty, security and developmental interests have not been effectively eliminated or prevented,  Liaison Office chief and Communist Party Central Committee member Wang Zhimin told pro-establishment lawmakers, according to his office s website. Chinese President Xi Jinping took what some saw as a harder line on Hong Kong s future during his visit in July to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover from the British. Challenges and threats to China s sovereignty and power, or the use of Hong Kong as a base for infiltration and sabotage, were acts that crossed  the red line  and were  absolutely impermissible , Xi said. Two members of Hong Kong s executive council - effectively the cabinet of leader Carrie Lam - have told Reuters that the 2003 bill would almost certainly have to be updated to reflect the fresh concerns. The city s independence movement, which has largely gone underground after most of its young leaders were charged for their roles in various protests, did not exist in 2003. Executive Council member Regina Ip - who pushed the previous bill as Hong Kong s then-security chief - said she could not say if the old proposals were sufficient in 2017.  We must review any proposed legislation against the evolving security situation... that is only natural,  she said. Her colleague and moderate democrat Ronny Tong said he believed, realistically, any new laws could draw the line at organized efforts to promote independence.  If the last version were to be passed, in fact it would not stop ... what is done by the students, because they are not advocating violence,  he said.  Hong Kong people are getting more and more intolerant of Beijing, and they (Chinese rulers) don t like that at all. Even short of independence, they feel that something needs to be done ... to try to make people more respectful to Beijing.    worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: looming national security laws raise fresh fears hong kong freedomshong kong reuters amid calls hong kong elite sweeping new national security laws government advisers lawyers say legislation likely tougher proposals shelved years ago raising fears city cherished freedoms those demanding urgency article using fledgling independence movement former british colony justification even though independence debate would allowed article first proposed lawyers diplomats activists fear new pressure could lead legal overkill open city already struggling increased interference beijing communist party rulers we see intolerance central authorities kind independence discussion said simon young professor university hong kong law school in atmosphere concern could end something criminalizes even advocacy independence something goes much tougher previous proposals kevin yam hong kong progressive lawyers group said vital win argument independence persuasion debate rather sweeping new law curb freedoms if government goes far undoubtedly chilling impact hong kong said this great concern the government response reuters questions provide information would legislation said seek create favorable social environment community handle constitutional obligation positive manner hong kong global financial hub ruled one country two systems formula since britain handed back china guaranteeing freedoms enjoyed mainland including independent judiciary freedom expression those freedoms outlined basic law also demands city pass law covering treason secession subversion beijing but many see beijing increasingly involved hong kong affairs shadowy detention five hong kong booksellers sold gossip material critical beijing legal interpretation chinese parliament eventually led disqualification six democratically elected lawmakers the calls enact article follow pattern say previous government proposals outlawed incitement violence sought protect political debate hundreds thousands took streets protest article forcing government shelves demonstrations heightened political sensibilities surrounding legislation government set firm timetable but pressure mounting hong kong push laws mainland officials expressed concerns public private meetings senior chinese parliamentarian li fei used visit hong kong last week warn article duty shared chief china liaison office city also called action many risks potential hazards would affect even threaten national sovereignty security developmental interests effectively eliminated prevented liaison office chief communist party central committee member wang chemin told lawmakers according office website chinese president xi winning took saw harder line hong kong future visit july mark anniversary handover british challenges threats china sovereignty power use hong kong base infiltration sabotage acts crossed red line absolutely permissible xi said two members hong kong executive council effectively cabinet leader carrie lam told reuters bill would almost certainly updated reflect fresh concerns the city independence movement largely gone underground young leaders charged roles various protests exist executive council member regina ip pushed previous bill hong kong chief said could say old proposals sufficient we must review proposed legislation evolving security situation natural said her colleague moderate democrat jonny tong said believed realistically new laws could draw line organized efforts promote independence if last version passed fact would stop done students advocating violence said hong kong people getting intolerant beijing chinese rulers like even short independence feel something needs done try make people respectful beijing worldnews