How the Current Hong Kong Regime Compares With its Past British Colonial Era Counterpart with Regard to Dissent

An in depth look at the differences in treatment shown to offenders of the 1967 riots and the protests against the Hong Kong government in 2019.

Police fire tear gas to clear pro-Democracy protesters during a demonstration on Hungry Ghost Festival day in the Sham Shui Po district in Hong Kong on Aug. 14, 2019. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Article 23 of the Basic Law was speedily passed despite opposition from democratic communities the world over. People look at its passage as signaling the ultimate collapse of the rule of law in Hong Kong. To voice their displeasure, the diaspora of Hongkongers around the globe spontaneously organized various protests on March 23.

Three years ago, Hong Kong “welcomed” its version of the National Security Law (NSL), which serves to wobble the foundation of Hong Kong’s rule of law. As it seems not good enough, Article 23, as claimed by the government, is there to “coordinate” and “supplement” all “shortcomings” of the NSL. However, in the eyes of most people, it will become the last nail in the coffin for the rule of law in Hong Kong.