Weakening Actions To Reject Hong Kong's National Security Act

Illustration (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - There were no yells or jargons at the demonstration by Hong Kong residents who rejected the National Security Law yesterday. According to a survey, support for the protest movement is decreasing.

Launching CNA, yesterday, hundreds of residents returned to the streets to carry out a long march. They were escorted by Hong Kong riot police. The agenda remains the same: opposing the law that would allow China to form a security agency in Hong Kong.

"I am here to oppose the national security law," said Esther, 25, one of the protesters. "This is not the last battle, there is still long term resistance," he said.

The incident came a day after Hong Kong police refused permission to stage the July 1 march to commemorate the moment Hong Kong handed over from Britain to the Chinese government 23 years ago. He argued, the demonstration would violate the rules prohibiting crowds of more than 50 people, to avoid the spread of the new corona virus.

However, a survey the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute commissioned for Reuters showed that support for opposition groups was declining. The amount of support according to the latest survey came to 51 percent from 58 percent support in the previous survey last March. Meanwhile, the number of people who opposed the demonstrators rose to 34 percent from 28 percent.

Previously, the delegates reviewed the draft bill at the Standing Committee meeting of the National Community Congress. However, they have not provided details on the latest formulation of the bill. While in the discussion, the committee was encouraged to adopt a law in the next few days.

The Chinese Parliament certainly welcomed the news. They sent the draft bill to the Committee for discussion and revision as soon as possible. The Xinhua news agency reported that in early July China would set up a "national security agency" in Hong Kong.