Photographer: Chan Long Hei / Bloomberg
Photographer: Chan Long Hei / Bloomberg
The Hong Kong government is considering introducing legislation that would prohibit insulting government officials, local media reported, as concerns grow over China’s erosion of fundamental freedoms in the city.
The city’s Security Bureau is leading an investigation into the legislation and would oversee it if it goes into effect, the Hong Kong Economic Journal and Now TV reported Wednesday, citing Civil Service Secretary Patrick Nip. The Hong Kong government would be investigating the matter and there was no other information to report, the outlets said.
Such legislation would be the biggest step yet to curtail freedom of expression in Hong Kong, after China imposed a sweeping national security law used to dispel dissent in the wake of massive street protests in 2019. Beijing explained also a patriotism test to disqualify pro-democracy lawmakers, a move that prompted opposition members in the Legislative Council to resign en masse in November.
Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s highest court ordered media mogul and democracy activist Jimmy Lai to remain in prison ahead of his trial on allegations of foreign collusion, a victory for Beijing that suggested Hong Kong judges were unlikely to challenge the security bill. Hong Kong police have also separately arrested Lai for assisting in an activist’s attempt to flee to Taiwan, the Oriental Daily reported Wednesday, without naming anyone.