Some answers to why Beijing is looking to impose legislation on the city Q: Why is China planning a security law for Hong Kong?
A: When Hong Kong’s de facto constitution, the Basic Law, came into effect in 1997, it left some important matters unfinished.
One was a provision to grant universal suffrage, which hasn’t been implemented. Another was a pledge to outlaw national-security crimes such as treason, secession and espionage.
That is what Beijing is pushing through now. Article 23 of the Basic Law obliged Hong Kong to pass the national-security legislation itself.