National security law, minister sackings bookend big year in Hong Kong politics
City continues to deal with consequences of 2019 unrest with a UK spying case, banning of a song and jailing of activists
Several major events made 2024 an exceptional year in Hong Kong politics, as the city continued to wrestle with the long shadow of the 2019 social unrest, introducing new security legislation and clamping down on activists.
But the laws continued to place Hong Kong in the crosshairs of attacks by the West amid escalating US-China tensions.
Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs met the city’s business leaders in two high-level meetings this year, gauging tycoons’ views on how to boost the economy, while urging them not to be “bystanders” as the local government pressed for long-term development projects.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu ended the year by sacking two ministers – those in charge of tourism and transport – as he continued his race to deliver concrete results at the halfway mark of his tenure.
Here is what you need to know about Hong Kong’s major political developments this year.
1. Article 23 enacted
