Hong Kong, Now Part of the Mainland
In 2019, millions of protestors took to the streets of Hong Kong to promote democracy. Now, in 2020, Beijing has responded by imposing a hard-line national security law on the city, bypassing both public consultation and the local legislative process. The purpose of the new law is to go after protesters accused of ‘colluding with foreign forces,’ advocating ‘separatism’ and damaging the city’s ‘premises and facilities’.
China’s ‘one country, two systems’ model – initiated with Hong Kong’s handover in 1997 – sought to return the city to Chinese sovereignty while maintain the basic freedoms on which it was grounded. Hong Kong was to continue to adhere to its own rule of law, rather than to the version applied in the mainland.
Now twenty-three years after the handover, China has abandoned its promise of a separate system for Hong Kong. On the eve of official celebrations of the handover’s anniversary (30th June 2020), China imposed a draconian national security bill on Hong Kong.
The law allows for the penalty of life imprisonment for the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. This could potentially be interpreted as applying to anyone, whether they are a Hong Kong resident or not, or even those outside Hong Kong – even Australians.
Australia’s Response
Australia has been ‘actively considering’ offering safe haven to Hong Kong residents.
Today, prime minister Scott Morison has announced measures designed to attract skilled individuals and businesses from Hong Kong:
- Skilled and graduate temporary visas holders will be eligible for a 5 year extension. Additionally, skilled and graduate visa holders will have a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period
- there will be a new 5 year visa for future Hong Kong applicants, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period. This new visa will be subject to a new skilled occupation list
- Australia will provide an incentive for Hong Kong export-oriented businesses to relocate to Australia and provide a pathway to permanent residency for all critical staff.
- existing business incentive programs will prioritise applicants from Hong Kong
Additionally, Australia has today suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong.
China-Australia Relations Deteriorate
Shortly before today’s announcement China threatened Australia warning that the Australian economy will have a ‘bitter pill to swallow’ if Canberra allows fleeing Hong Kong citizens to settle in Australia.
The Global Times, a known proxy for Beijing, made the comments in an editorial this morning. The paper said a move to make it easier for Hong Kong citizens to settle in Australia would have a ‘huge negative impact’ on the Australian economy.
Australia, along with the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand have all criticised the imposition of the highly controversial security law in the one-time British territory.
Travel Warning (DFAT)
The Australian Government has issued a new travel advice warning Australians they may face ‘arbitrary detention’ if they go to mainland China.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also said Chinese Government authorities have detained foreigners because they were allegedly “endangering national security”.
The department was already advising travellers not to travel to China — or anywhere overseas — because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Australians are banned from leaving the country for overseas travel unless they are granted an exemption by the Federal Government.
“If you’re already in China, and wish to return to Australia, we recommend you do so as soon as possible by commercial means. Authorities have detained foreigners because they’re ‘endangering national security’. Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention” (DFAT).
