Skip to content

Hong Kong's new security law explained

China has imposed a national security law on Hong Kong which changes many things for citizens in the territory.

It introduces new penalties - up to life in prison - for offences including advocating for Hong Kong's independence.

Critics have called it "the end of Hong Kong", but supporters say it is needed to stamp out the chaos of anti-government protests.

China correspondent Stephen McDonell explains what the law means, and what people there think.

Video by Edward Lawrence.

Read more: China's new law: Why is Hong Kong worried?

30 July 2020

Explore More

People in high-vis jackets walk next to a car submerged in floods on the left of a split screen with a snowy road on the right

Atmospheric river dumps snow and record rain on California

Science & Environment

Phone footage of a skate surfacing out of grey waves to a rigid inflatable boat.ttack the side of a inflatable

Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off Shetland

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Smoke billows from house fire.

Video shows flames and thick smoke at house fire

A view from an EasyJet plane window as it flies above and to the side of an erupting volcano

Plane passengers film Iceland volcano lava from above

BBC News

East of England weather forecast

Composite image of Sir Keir Starmer and BBC Radio WM presenter Kath Stanczyszyn, who is pictured wearing headphones and speaking into a purple microphone

Will there be a Birmingham pub bombings inquiry?

Birmingham & Black Country

A huge Christmas tree on a flatbed lorry in font of the US Capitol building

US Capitol Christmas tree arrives in DC

Blurred still image from video clips shows people being taken out of a car

Migrants asked to rate trip in smuggler review videos

John Darvall sat on the left of a composite image, in a purple studio with a microphone in front of him. On the right is Keir Starmer with grey hair and brown glasses.

PM challenged on West's councils facing bankruptcy

BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Mural of The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke unveiled

Parts of West Burton A power station being demolished

Power station demolition captured by drone

Man clinging to a cliff being rescued

Moment person clinging to cliff is rescued by helicopter

A woman in a hospital gown grins on the left and a monitor lit up with lungs is on the right of a split screen.

Woman gets first double lung transplant done by robot

Ryan Borgwardt

US kayaker who faked own death thought to have fled to Europe

Ruth Dodsworth in the BBC studios in Cardiff. She is sitting on an orange sofa. She has cropped blonde hair and is wearing a fitted mauve top,

Stalking was part of my daily life, says presenter

A Christmas tree with lots of blue and green lights. A building nearby has yellow lights and a red bow so it looks like a present. You can see people stood in front of the building.

Manx capital sparkles at Christmas lights switch-on

A woman has her make up done in a Swansea salon for Beaujolais Day

'Beaujolais day is Swansea's Christmas'

A woman polished a large Gromit statue at the launch of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail in Bristol. The statue has a multicoloured sparkly pattern. The woman is wearing a red and white shirt and a black dress over the top and she has red hair cut in a bob style

Aardman unveils new Wallace and Gromit trail

Fireball seen from car dash camera

Massive fireball rips through Chinese restaurant

Reports say a gas leak at a fried chicken shop may be behind the blast, which killed two and injured 26.

BBC correspondent Stephen McDonell holds microphone in front of a delegate at China's National People’s Congress

Trump or Biden: Who does China’s Communist Party want?

With Super Tuesday underway in the US, the BBC asks China's elite who they want to win this year's election.

Multiple smashed cars

Dozens of cars pile up after icy Chinese highway crash

At least nine people were injured in the incident, which Chinese state media said involved over 100 cars.

Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

In 60 seconds: Who was China’s Li Keqiang?

A trained economist, Li was once tipped to be the country's future leader.

Woman running during Typhoon Saolo

Watch Typhoon Saola ripping up trees in Hong Kong

The highest level of storm alert is in effect in Hong Kong, with people being warned to stay indoors.

Child sitting on ledge on high rise building

Watch: Scare as child plays on high-rise window ledge

China police issue warnings after a child is seen playing hide and seek on the side of a apartment building.

Panda

Giant panda has a case of the hiccups

Giant panda at Wolong Shenshuping, China, looks very relaxed whilst they have the hiccups

Panda

Hiccupping giant panda caught on camera

Video from China’s Sichuan province shows the animal looking relaxed, but unimpressed.

Man clinging onto the back of car in flood

Man saved after car flips in raging floodwaters

The rescue was shown on Chinese state TV as devastating floods hit Hebei province.

Flooded train station

Waterfalls form at train station after heavy rains

Parts of China have been hit by an onslaught of extreme weather, causing widespread flooding.

Rights graphic

Building collapses into raging China floodwaters

This video has been removed for rights reasons.

Smoke rises above restaurant

Dozens killed in China restaurant fire

The blast was caused by a leaking liquefied petroleum gas tank, state media reports.

People perched on aircon units

People cling to aircon units on side of burning hospital

Harrowing video shows people trying to escape a fire in Beijing that killed 29 people.

Flag of China on ship

China conducts Taiwan military drills

On land, by sea and in the air - pictures released by China's state broadcaster show military drills around Taiwan.

Teacups

Watch: China's leader and his two teacup power move

The BBC's Celia Hatton breaks down Xi Jinping's caffeine habits, and why they might be a subtle power play.

Two people wearing PPE

Ros Atkins on... China’s Covid surge

As China deals with a new Covid wave, Ros Atkins looks at why it’s hard to assess its scale.

Tommy and Jimmy Lindesay

The brothers running the Great Wall of China

Jimmy and Tommy Lindesay are covering the equivalent of a marathon every day for six months.

Two children wearing masks in Beijing

Hope and worry as Beijing relaxes zero-Covid policy

People in Beijing see a cautious return to life after China lifts its most severe Covid restrictions.

Serafet Muhammed Ali

China fire was government's fault - victim's daughter

There were widespread protests after 10 people died in a tower block fire in the city of Urumqi.

Riot police in hazmat suits

Riot police in hazmat suits at China protests

Protests in Guangzhou continue a week of unrest in the country, aimed at the country's zero-Covid policy.