Life imprisonment for breaking new Beijing-imposed law in Hong Kong

People convicted under the new security law in Hong Kong could face life in jail, the maximum sentence under the controversial legislation that came into force Tuesday night.

The full text of the legislation Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was put out hours after President Xi Jinping signed the bill into law.

According to the law, people convicted of the “…national security crimes could face up to life imprisonment.”

“Convicted criminals will be disqualified from running for public office, and people in public office who are found guilty of the crimes will be removed from their posts,” a text of the law published by official news agency, Xinhua, early on Wednesday said.

“The law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment,” according to its provision.

The territory of Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997.

Under an unique Sino-British agreement supposed to protect certain freedoms that people in mainland China do not enjoy - including freedom of speech and the freedom to gather.

Critics say the new law could curb and crush exactly those freedoms and jail people for showing dissent.

Described by Beijing as a “sword” hanging over the heads of those endangering national security, the law has taken effect just six weeks since it was first unveiled.

Hong Kong’s leader, the pro-Beijing chief executive Carrie Lam, defended the law, saying it filled a “gaping hole” in national security.

Lam said the law will only target a “small minority of illegal, criminal acts and activities”.

The law gives Beijing jurisdiction over “very serious” national security crimes.

It also empowers China to set up a national security agency in the city, staffed by officials who are not bound by local law when carrying out duties.

With 66 articles in six chapters, the law lays down the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences -- secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties.

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong announced he’s stepping down as leader of his anti-Beijing group Demosisto, soon after China passed the controversial law.

“After much internal deliberation, we have decided to disband and cease all operations as a group, given the circumstances,” Demosisto said on Twitter.

Chinese foreign ministry said it will take necessary countermeasures to “firmly safeguard” its national interests in response to a decision by the US to end special treatment for Hong Kong over the new law.