Seeing Zheng Yanxiong's Footprints And The Fate Of Hong Kong Under The Operation Of The National Security Law Enforcement Special Office

Ilustrasi photo (Francisco Delgado / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - China opened its new national security office in Hong Kong. The office was created by converting a hotel near a downtown park, in which the area has become one of the most popular spots for pro-democracy protests.

The office is in the bustling shopping and commercial district of Causeway Bay, near Victoria Park. The office will later oversee the enforcement of the National Security Act (UU) imposed by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments since last week.

The office will take enforcement action in the most serious cases. Under the National Security Act, it allows office agents to carry suspects across borders to be tried in Communist Party-controlled courts.

The office also has special privileges for its agents. One of them is that the Hong Kong authorities are unable to inspect their vehicles.

The opening of the new office was attended by Zheng Yanxiong, someone who will head the office operations. In addition, there were other high-ranking officials, namely Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam and Head of the Chinese Liaison Office Luo Huining. Luo said that the office is a "national security guard" and people who love China and Hong Kong will welcome it.

"Those who have ulterior motives and who are anti-Chinese and are trying to destabilize Hong Kong not only stigmatize the office, but also undermine the legal system and rule of law in mainland China in an attempt to arouse unnecessary worry and fear among Hong Kong residents, "Luo said.

Zheng Yanxiong's footsteps

The National Security Act has pushed Hong Kong down a more authoritarian path. Western governments, lawyers and human rights groups have protested against this.

Citizens who are deemed to have committed acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign troops will receive life imprisonment. Police have arrested at least ten people, including a 15-year-old girl. The arrest was made because the girl was suspected of threatening China's national security.

Critics fear it will destroy the freedoms Hong Kong craves. Meanwhile supporters say the National Security Law brings stability to Hong Kong after a year of protests and violence.

Zheng Yanxiong said his party would strictly enforce the law. Nevertheless he promised to enforce the law "without violating the legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations".

Zheng Yanxiong is a cadre of the Chinese Communist Party. The 57-year-old Zheng recently served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party Committee in Guangdong Province bordering Hong Kong.

He is best known for his actions in 2011 against land rights protesters in a village in southern China. Leaked footage during the 2011 dispute shows him scolding villagers and calling foreign media "rotten".

Zheng has never held a position outside of Guangdong and has extensive experience in propaganda. He also worked for the Communist Party People's Daily in the southern regional bureau for four years. Zheng was the deputy minister in charge of propaganda for Guangdong from 2013 to 2018.

The enforcement of the Security Act has an impact on the attitude of the United States (US). After revoking Hong Kong privileges, Bloomberg reported that US President Donald Trump's top advisers were weighing proposals to weaken the Hong Kong currency against the US dollar. Still, the idea doesn't seem to have gotten any attention.