China security office flexes new power with Hong Kong probe
HONG KONG/BEIJING (Bloomberg): Beijing's national security office in Hong Kong carried out its first known joint operation with city officials, marking an expansion of China's direct law enforcement in the financial hub.
Local authorities on Thursday night announced they were investigating a case of alleged foreign collusion with China's Office for Safeguarding National Security. The office interviewed six people after requesting the support of Hong Kong police using new powers granted last month, according to a statement.
Hong Kong security officials searched the homes of six suspects, as well as the office of an organization, and seized evidence including bank documents and devices. The individuals were also required to surrender their travel documents.
The suspects are accused of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' from November 2020 to June 2024, the government said. The statement didn't reveal their identities.
The raids show Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent is still expanding, five years after President Xi Jinping imposed a security law on the city to cement Communist Party control.
Hong Kong officials this week banned a video game for the first time under security legislation, accusing it of advocating armed revolution. That came days after imprisoned former activist Joshua Wong was hit with a fresh security charge. The one-time poster child of the city's pro-democracy protest movement was due for release in early 2027, having served two-thirds of his current 56-month prison term.
In response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said it "strongly opposes to unfounded allegations and slandering remarks against the joint operation' without specifying the offending statements. No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation, the person said in an emailed reply.
Fast-Tracked
The joint operation this week marked the first application of the Safeguarding National Security Regulation, which was fast-tracked into law to facilitate Chinese security personnel.
While the Beijing-imposed security law allows mainland officials to assume jurisdiction in certain cases, the new measures bolstered that legal framework for China's security apparatus to operate directly within Hong Kong's common law system.
The May 13 legislation, which took effect before being review by lawmakers, requires Hong Kong government departments and civil servants to provide "all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection' to the Chinese security officers upon request.
The new rules also criminalize acts that could impede the China-run office's work, including disclosing details of its investigations, with penalties extending up to seven years in prison and fines.
The Hong Kong government has signaled a continued emphasis on national security even as it vows to focus on supporting growth, which has been challenged by China's slowdown and an uncertain external environment. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
10 minutes ago
- The Star
Regulating online fraud: Malaysia's OSB vs China's approach
INITIATED in the 2010s, China's Digital Silk Road (DSR) aims to enhance digital connectivity across nations through infrastructure, trade, finance, people-to-people exchanges and policy coordination. It presents new commercial opportunities for Malaysia by fostering collaboration between Chinese and Malaysian businesses, strengthening Malaysia's digital economy ecosystem. The convergence of China's DSR, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rapid rise in artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly accelerated the adoption of digital technologies in business processes and operations within Malaysia. However, while digitalisation offers numerous benefits, it has unfortunately also led to a significant surge in online criminal activity. A recent report by The Star revealed that nearly RM600mil was lost to online fraud from January to March, according to the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department. The report highlighted that criminals are exploiting technological advancements and modern lifestyles, using fake digital identities, fraudulent websites, chatbots and deepfakes to deceive victims. Recognising the escalating threat posed by these sophisticated methods, regulatory interventions focused on online content have become a prevailing trend. Malaysia, in line with this trend, passed the Online Safety Bill (OSB) 2024 in December. It is awaiting official gazettement, and its effective date will be determined by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The new law aims to enhance online safety in Malaysia by regulating harmful content and establishing duties and obligations for application service providers (those who provide network services such as Internet access), content application service providers (those who provide content such as broadcasting and video streaming), and network service providers (those providing cellular mobile services and bandwidth services) operating within and outside Malaysia. According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, it applies to licensed application and content service providers such as Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and YouTube. The Bill regulates two categories of content: 'harmful content' and 'priority harmful content'. Its First Schedule defines the scope of harmful content, which includes content on financial fraud, excluding content that promotes awareness or education related to financial fraud. The content on financial fraud listed in the First Schedule is also classified as 'priority harmful content' in the Second Schedule. Key duties imposed on service providers include the obligation to implement measures to detect and mitigate harmful content (Section 13), issue user guidelines (Section 14), establish mechanisms for handling user reports of potentially harmful content (Sections 16 and 17), and prepare an Online Safety Plan (Section 20). For priority harmful content, such as financial fraud, service providers must take steps to prevent user access (Section 19). Despite Fahmi's assurance that the government's intention in introducing the OSB is to serve as a measure to combat crime, such as financial fraud, and not to restrict freedom of expression, critics remain concerned about its potential to restrict freedom of expression and be used as a censorship tool by the government. These are valid concerns, particularly considering the vague definition of harmful content in the OSB and the vast powers conferred on a commission reporting to the Communications Ministry. This commentary limits its discussion to the Bill's role concerning content on financial fraud. It is undeniable that unregulated content involving financial fraud, such as online scams, can damage business reputations and cause financial losses. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching reported that RM1.224bil was lost to online crimes and scams in Malaysia within the first 10 months of last year, with many victims falling prey to sponsored advertisements on social media platforms. Indeed, a duty should be imposed on service providers to prevent these platforms from profiting from sponsored advertisements involving financial scams, for which they receive payment to promote products or services. Nevertheless, the provisions in the OSB are still lacking when viewed from the perspective of curbing online fraud. In China, the government passed the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law ('ATOF Law') in September 2022. This law is more specific, aiming to prevent, deter and punish telecommunications and online fraud, strengthen efforts against such fraud, and protect the rights and interests of citizens and organisations. It imposes responsibilities on key businesses in the telecommunications, financial, and Internet sectors to prevent fraud risks. Among these requirements, the law requires service providers to verify users' identities before providing a range of services, such as web hosting, content and software distribution, livestreaming and advertising (Article 21). The law also imposes a duty of reasonable care on service providers to monitor, identify, and address the use of their services to commit fraud (Article 25). The ATOF Law provides a model regulation for targeted fraud prevention. While Malaysia and China operate within different legal and cultural frameworks, there are valuable lessons to be learned from China's experience in addressing online fraud. China's preventive measures have contributed to a more secure digital environment for businesses and consumers, minimising the impact of online fraud. While the Malaysian government's efforts to ensure a secure online environment and build trust in the digital ecosystem are laudable, more targeted provisions focused on the specific mechanics of online fraud would be more efficient, like China's ATOF Law, instead of a broad content regulation approach. China's ATOF Law, which emphasises user verification and platform monitoring for fraudulent activities, would allow for a more focused approach to content regulation. It is imperative that the Malaysian government review the adequacy of the OSB in achieving its intended purpose of curbing online crime. To enhance its efficacy, the government could consider incorporating more granular provisions that mandate specific actions from service providers and establish clear and enforceable guidelines and penalties. A well-regulated online environment, one that builds trust and security, can attract foreign investment and facilitate DSR-related collaborations, shaping the long-term trajectory of Malaysia's digital economy. Lai Chooi Ling is a lecturer at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own. The SEARCH Scholar Series is a social responsibility programme jointly organised by the South-East Asia Research Centre for Humanities (SEARCH) and TAR UMT.
The Star
10 minutes ago
- The Star
Viral 'honour' killing in southwest Pakistan triggers national outrage
KARACHI (Reuters) -A viral video of the "honour killing" of a woman and her lover in a remote part of Pakistan has ignited national outrage, prompting scrutiny of long-standing tribal codes and calls for justice in a country where such killings often pass in silence. While hundreds of so-called honour killings are reported in Pakistan each year, often with little public or legal response, the video of a woman and man accused of adultery being taken to the desert by a group of men to be killed has struck a nerve. The video shows the woman, Bano Bibi, being handed a Koran by a man identified by police as her brother. "Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me," she says, and she walks forward a few feet and stops with her back to the men. The brother, Jalal Satakzai, then shoots her three times and she collapses. Seconds later he shoots and kills the man, Ehsan Ullah Samalani, whom Bano was accused of having an affair with. Once the video of the killings in Pakistan's Balochistan province went viral, it brought swift government action and condemnation from politicians, rights groups and clerics. Civil rights lawyer Jibran Nasir said, though, the government's response was more about performance than justice. "The crime occurred months ago, not in secrecy but near a provincial capital,yet no one acted until 240 million witnessed the killing on camera," he said. "This isn't a response to a crime. It's a response to a viral moment." Police have arrested 16 people in Balochistan's Nasirabad district, including a tribal chief and the woman's mother. The mother, Gul Jan Bibi, said the killings were carried out by family and local elders based on "centuries-old Baloch traditions", and not on the orders of the tribal chief. "We did not commit any sin," she said in a video statement that also went viral. "Bano and Ehsan were killed according to our customs." She said her daughter, who had three sons and two daughters, had run away with Ehsan and returned after 25 days. Police said Bano's younger brother, who shot the couple, remains at large. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said it was a "test" case and vowed to dismantle the illegal tribal courts operating outside the law. Police had earlier said a jirga, an informal tribal council that issues extrajudicial rulings, had ordered the killings. #JusticeForCouple The video sparked online condemnation, with hashtags like #JusticeForCouple and #HonourKilling trending. The Pakistan Ulema Council, a body of religious scholars, called the killings "un-Islamic" and urged terrorism charges against those involved. Dozens of civil society members and rights activists staged a protest on Saturday in the provincial capital Quetta, demanding justice and an end to parallel justice systems. "Virality is a double-edged sword," said Arsalan Khan, a cultural anthropologist and professor who studies gender and masculinity. "It can pressure the state into action, but public spectacle can also serve as a strategy to restore ghairat, or perceived family honour, in the eyes of the community." Pakistan outlawed honour killings in 2016 after the murder of social media star Qandeel Baloch, closing a loophole that allowed perpetrators to go free if they were pardoned by family members. Rights groups say enforcement remains weak, especially in rural areas where tribal councils still hold sway. "In a country where conviction rates often fall to single digits, visibility - and the uproar it brings - has its advantages," said constitutional lawyer Asad Rahim Khan. "It jolts a complacent state that continues to tolerate jirgas in areas beyond its writ." The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported at least 405 honour killings in 2024. Most victims are women, often killed by relatives claiming to defend family honour. Khan said rather than enforcing the law, the government has spent the past year weakening the judiciary and even considering reviving jirgas in former tribal areas. "It's executive inaction, most shamefully toward women in Balochistan," Khan said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in recent months has asked senior ministers to evaluate proposals to revive jirgas in Pakistan's former tribal districts, including potential engagement with tribal elders and Afghan authorities. The Prime Minister's Office and Pakistan's information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment. VIRAL AND THEN FORGOTTEN? The Balochistan killings were raised in Pakistan's Senate, where the human rights committee condemned the murders and called for action against those who convened the jirga. Lawmakers also warned that impunity for parallel justice systems risked encouraging similar violence. Activists and analysts, however, say the outrage is unlikely to be sustained. "There's noise now, but like every time, it will fade," said Jalila Haider, a human rights lawyer in Quetta. "In many areas, there is no writ of law, no enforcement. Only silence." Haider said the killings underscore the state's failure to protect citizens in under-governed regions like Balochistan, where tribal power structures fill the vacuum left by absent courts and police. "It's not enough to just condemn jirgas," Haider said. "The real question is: why does the state allow them to exist in the first place?" (Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi and Saleem Ahmed in Quetta; Editing by Tom Hogue)
The Star
10 minutes ago
- The Star
Trump pauses export controls to bolster China trade deal, FT says
Container vessels in Suzhou, China. — AFP The U.S. has paused curbs on tech exports to China to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing and support President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a meeting with President Xi Jinping this year, the Financial Times said on Monday. The industry and security bureau of the Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, has been told in recent months to avoid tough moves on China, the newspaper said, citing current and former officials. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and the department did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside business hours. Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials are set to resume talks in Stockholm on Monday to tackle longstanding economic disputes at the centre of a trade war between the world's top two economies. Tech giant Nvidia said this month it would resume sales of its H20 graphics processing units (GPU) to China, reversing an export curb the Trump administration imposed in April to keep advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands over national security concerns. The planned resumption was part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths and magnets, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said. The paper said 20 security experts and former officials, including former deputy US national security adviser Matt Pottinger, will write on Monday to Lutnick to voice concern, however. "This move represents a strategic misstep that endangers the United States' economic and military edge in artificial intelligence," they write in the letter, it added. - Reuters
