Wang Xiangwei

Opinion | A vibrant media landscape will ease fears over Hong Kong’s Article 23 law

People in Hong Kong, particularly the media, should still be allowed to voice diverse opinions and criticism without fear of retribution – as long as it is fair and fact-based

This will help mitigate the concern of people considering a move to the city and show ‘one country, two systems’ is still alive and well

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Why you can trust SCMP

Wang Xiangwei

Published: 5:30am, 25 Mar 2024

In numerology, 23 is a lucky number which has motifs associated with transformation, progress, harmony and making good things happen. Others refer to the concept of the “23 enigma”, which has been popularised by various books, films and conspiracy theories. Indeed, it may well be a symbol of something larger, with hidden significance, at least according to my cursory Google search of the subject.

One thing is certain: the number 23 does have far-reaching and historic significance for Hong Kong. On March 19, Hong Kong’s lawmakers unanimously passed the city’s domestic national security law, under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini constitution.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that the law would take effect on March 23. He decided to fast-track the constitutionally mandated legislation, which had been shelved for more than two decades, following a trip to Beijing. There, he attended the opening ceremony of the annual plenary session of China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), which began on March 5.

The number on Lee’s NPC attendance badge was 0023. Whether this was randomly assigned or intentional remains unclear. But, in a modern city that remains superstitious about numbers, 23 has certainly taken on new significance.

The ramifications of Article 23 legislation cannot be overstated. Beijing’s direct imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 has already caused widespread jitters among foreign businesses, whose executives are worried about a potential loss of freedoms in the city.

Article 23 legislation is more comprehensive and is aimed at filling the gaps in the Beijing-imposed national security law, which covers only four categories: secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. The domestic security law will also cover treason, theft of state secrets or espionage, and foreign political bodies and organisations operating in the city.