Hong Kong authorities are enacting new subsidiary laws to clarify national security offenses and plug potential loopholes in the existing legislation. This move is part of an ongoing effort to enhance security.

Enhancing national security has always been an ongoing priority rather than a completed task for Hong Kong following the introduction of the statute in 2020. This has been made clear by Beijing when the authorities take stock of their work on this front. The latest move to enact subsidiary laws that clarify what constitutes national security cases is an example. The move involves a classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security”, which would include any case...