Margaret chan, Former Director of Health, Hong Kong

Hong Kong's top official Carrie Lam on Tuesday said that the national security law will target only an "extremely small minority of illegal and criminal acts and activities" and assured that it will rather make the territory safer for most residents.The Chinese legislature approved the law a day before July 1, the politically charged anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997 which regularly draws pro-democracy protests, signaled the urgency that the Beijing has given to expanding control in Hong Kong after the territory was convulsed by pro-democracy protests last year, The New York Times reported.On the anniversary last year, a massive peaceful demonstration gave way to violence when a small group of activists broke into the Hong Kong legislature, smashing glass walls and spray-painting slogans on walls.The details of the law had not been disclosed as of Tuesday afternoon. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's representative to the top legislative body in China that reviewed the law, confirmed its passage on Tuesday.The security law was approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, an elite arm of China's party-controlled legislature. Breaking from normal procedure, the committee did not release a draft of the law for public comment which further raised concerns of Hong Kong's activists, legal scholars and officials.The law calls for Hong Kong's government to establish a new agency to oversee enforcement of the new rules.On Tuesday, a few dozen pro-Beijing supporters wearing white shirts and blue caps gathered in a park to celebrate the passage of the law. They celebrated by waving large Chinese flags as they uncorked bottles of sparkling wine and drank from plastic cups.In a video message to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, Lam said: "I urge the international community to respect our country's right to safeguard national security, and Hong Kong people's aspirations for stability and harmony."In addition, Lam also accused foreign governments and politicians, who had raised objections to the legislation, of double standards.( With inputs from ANI )

Margaret ChanFOLLOW

Margaret chan, Latest News

New Delhi, July 1 Gold hit an all-time high on Wednesday with futures trading at Rs 48,871 per ... ...

Washington, July 1 US President Donald Trump has once again slammed China over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which ... ...

Hong Kong, July 1 More than 30 people were arrested on Wednesday after hundred took to the streets ... ...

Hong Kong, July 1 Hong Kong on Wednesday commemorated the 23rd anniversary of its handover by the UK ... ...

China's tailor-made National Security law has finally pronounced doom over the Hong Kong citizens who for months had been out on the streets to save their city's special status. ...

China on Tuesday said that it will retaliate, after the Trump administration placed new restrictions on US exports of defence equipment and certain high-technology products to Hong Kong in response to Beijing imposing a controversial national securit ...

Hours after Beijing passed the controversial national security legislation for Hong Kong, activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Jeffrey Ngo and Agnes Chow step-down from the pro-democracy group Demosisto on Tuesday morning. ...

Hong Kong's top official Carrie Lam on Tuesday said that the national security law will target only an "extremely small minority of illegal and criminal acts and activities" and assured that it will rather make the territory safer for most residents. ...