Banks comments on Hong Kong's new national security law in South China Morning Post

July 7, 2020

The South China Morning Post

William C. Banks

Public Administration & International Affairs Department

China

Government

National Security

The South China Morning Post

William C. Banks

"[National security] definitions are a game that all governments play. Pay attention instead to how governments treat their citizens," says Professor Emeritus William C. Banks. The terrorism sections in Hong Kong’s new law were similar to those in many other countries and were not by themselves problematic, Banks says. "The striking feature of the new law is that it criminalizes expressive behavior that is not in any way violent. The sections on secession and subversion are the key provisions," he says. Banks was interviewed for the South China Morning Post article "How Hong Kong national security law compares to legislation in other countries." 07/07/20