The Pulse：Possible impact of the National anthem & national security law on Hong Kong's education sy

Some Communist Party supporters say most people in Hong Kong have no reason to worry about the human rights implications of the soon to be imposed National Security Law because it will affect only a “small number of people”. They say this while freely admitting that they haven’t seen the details of the law. Opponents of the law say its chilling effects are already being felt over a wide range of social groups and occupations. According to Secretary for Security John Lee, the law will take immediate effect once it’s passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Although preparations for enactment are proceeding behind closed doors some general principles were however revealed last Saturday by the official Xinhua news agency. The four categories of crimes to be covered by the law are: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign forces. Already on the statues is the National Anthem law passed earlier this month, despite strong opposition from pro-democrat legislators. It stipulates that anyone who violates or insults the March of the Volunteers may be fined up to HK$50,000 and jailed for three years.