UN voices alarm at Hong Kong security law arrests
The United Nations voiced alarm Friday that arrests were already being made
in Hong Kong under Beijing's controversial new national security law despite
"vague" definitions of the offences covered by the legislation.
The UN rights office said it was in the process of analysing the contents of the new law, which outlaws acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.
The law was passed on Tuesday in Beijing, bypassing Hong Kong's legislature and several people have already been arrested, and one charged.
"We are alarmed that arrests are already being made under the law with immediate effect, when there is not full information and understanding of the scope of the offences," UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville told a press briefing via video link.
"On a preliminary analysis, we are concerned that the definition of some of the offences contained in the law are vague and overly broad," he said.
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He warned that this could lead to "discriminatory or arbitrary interpretation and enforcement of the law, which could undermine human rights protection".
Beijing has faced a groundswell of criticism from primarily Western nations over the law, which radically increases China's control over Hong Kong.
Colville acknowledged that the law affirms that human rights, and in particular fundamental freedoms like the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, shall be protected.
"We hope these provisions are interpreted in a way that does indeed give full effect to the binding provisions" in international rights covenants, he said.
He voiced particular concern about the offence of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".
"This may lead to a restriction of civic space and of the possibility for civil society actors to exercise their right to participate in public affairs," he warned.
"These provisions could also lead to criminalising human rights defenders and activists for the exercise of their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly."
