Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Vincent Yu

Fears over 'exit ban' powers included in Hong Kong immigration bill

So-called “exit bans” are often used in mainland China against activists who challenge authorities and have impacted business figures like Irishman Richard O’Halloran.

HONG KONG HAS passed a new immigration law that includes powers to stop people entering or leaving the city, raising fears Chinese mainland-style “exit bans” could be deployed in the international business hub.

The legislation sailed through a legislature now devoid of opposition as Beijing seeks to quash dissent and make the semi-autonomous city more like the authoritarian mainland following huge and often violent democracy protests.

Activists, lawyers and some business figures have sounded the alarm over various provisions within the bill, including one that allows the city’s immigration chief to bar people from boarding planes to and from the city.

No court order is required and there is no recourse to appeal.

The city’s influential Bar Association (HKBA) warned the bill’s wording gave “apparently unfettered power” to the immigration director.

Speaking after the bill was passed today, labour activists and legal critics said the legislature had ignored concerns about the law’s broad wording and said they feared exit bans could now be employed in Hong Kong.

“When they have this power, absolute power, you don’t know who they will use it on,” barrister Chow Hang-tung, from the pro-democracy Hong Kong Alliance, told reporters after the bill was passed.

Hong Kong’s government said the immigration bill was needed to address a backlog of non-refoulement claims and to screen illegal immigrants before they depart for the city.

“It will only apply to flights heading to Hong Kong,” the Security Bureau said.

However, the wording of the bill does not limit the power to arriving flights or immigrants and legal experts say it could also be deployed against anyone leaving or arriving in Hong Kong.

So-called “exit bans” are often used in mainland China against activists who challenge authorities. They have also impacted business figures.

One recent example is Irishman Richard O’Halloran, who has been unable to leave Shanghai for two years because of a legal dispute involving the Chinese owner of a Dublin-based company for which he works.

‘Authoritarian swing’

Under Beijing’s direction, Hong Kong’s government has swung more authoritarian since 2019′s huge protests.

Faith in official assurances that the city is not becoming like the mainland has been rattled by the recent crackdown.

Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong last year, arguing it was needed to return stability and would not impact freedoms.

But its broad wording and subsequent application has criminalised much dissent and radically transformed a once politically pluralistic city.

Many of Hong Kong’s prominent pro-democracy figures have since been arrested, detained or fled overseas.

The city’s formerly raucous legislature has been cleared of pro-democracy opponents who resigned en masse late last year after three of their colleagues were disqualified for their political views.

Since then, the government has fast-tracked a number of laws with limited scrutiny and dissent in the legislature.

Today’s immigration bill received 39 votes in favour and two against. It was passed shortly after lawmakers approved a budget in record time with just one dissenting vote.

Beijing has also unveiled a new plan – dubbed “patriots rule Hong Kong” – to politically vet anyone standing for office and reduce the number of directly elected seats in the legislature to a small minority.

Critics of the immigration bill also say it will make it easier to detain and deport refugees.

Hong Kong only approves around one percent of refugee claims, one of the lowest rates in the world, and there is a huge backlog.

Refugees are unable to work while their applications are being processed and often live in miserable conditions.

Author
View comments
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute winding_down
    Favourite winding_down
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:17 AM

    Thank you.

    157
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Rusk
    Favourite Robert Rusk
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:33 AM

    “Boole’s work in mathematicians is now central to the design of computer circuits.”

    Boole’s work is in fact one of the most important concepts in computer science (if not THE most important). It is a fundamental building block of modern logical reasoning.

    133
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute UndercoverGarda
    Favourite UndercoverGarda
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:17 PM

    How easy is it to count in binary?

    It’s as easy as 01 10 11.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leigh Power
    Favourite Leigh Power
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 1:27 PM

    There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t.

    63
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Rusk
    Favourite Robert Rusk
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 4:47 PM

    “Boole’s work in mathematics is now central to computer science.”

    Close enough …

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Enda
    Favourite Enda
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Fair play to the both of them

    109
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Atticus the Accuser
    Favourite Atticus the Accuser
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:00 PM

    P.C gone mad! If a scientist of his calibre has a theory maybe the evidence should be explored before the witch hunt and burning commences.

    There’s a reason you only see black guys winning the Olympic 100m sprint Gold and there’s a reason you don’t see them win any medals for swimming! To state such a fact is true!

    Human intelligence has a genetic component and also takes in environmental factors.No surprise that Bill Gates in school by random chance had access to one of the most advance computers in the USA at the time.He had the genetic predisposition of a high intellect and the right factors in his environment and he became a Titan in computers.

    If people in Africa don’t have the same standard in education well obviously they’re unlikely to fulfil any genetic potential in intelligence. It doesn’t mean under different environment they wouldn’t.

    If someone said all black people are not as smart as all white people that statement is false and obviously racist.But if someone said due to environmental conditions plenty of Africans may not develop the full potential of intelligence compared to the Western population that statement has evidence.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dee4
    Favourite Dee4
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:22 PM

    @Att , re your swimming example it depends on the reasoning and if the reasoning is true. Swimming is a relatively expensive middle class activity so chances are Africa will not feature high in Olympic swimming or Dressage or yachting. If its genetic , less buoyancy (I have no idea) then its either true or not true. The next issue would be misusing the facts for propaganda to propagate hate.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leviathan
    Favourite Leviathan
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Can you explain to me how swimming is a relatively expensive “middle class” activity?

    Aside from a pair of shorts…you really don’t need anything else for it. Its no different than walking either…you wouldn’t necessarily need lessons to learn, just an attentive parent.

    15
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew McQuillan
    Favourite Andrew McQuillan
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Atticus, your last paragraph is not an accurate description of the comments of this man. Unintentionally or not, you have rewritten a version based on a possible intention of different phraseology. His own words were very different, racist, and at odds with the scientific research that his own developments unlocked.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vera Dawber Power
    Favourite Vera Dawber Power
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:31 AM

    What a wonderful kind gesture..God bless you..and thanks.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thierry Rat
    Favourite Thierry Rat
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:14 PM

    POlitical correctness restricts science

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank
    Favourite Frank
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:53 AM

    Barack Obama should do the same with his with all the proceeds going towards victims of drone strikes.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dee4
    Favourite Dee4
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    bit if a misleading headline, if I understand the story he will donate a % of 3million? hardly the same as “donate some of his millions to an Irish university”

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Enda
    Favourite Enda
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Indeed. 4 plus “other” charities will also get a share of the 3 million so hardly millions each as claimed.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dee4
    Favourite Dee4
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Why all the dislikes?? the article states the proceeds are €3.8 million and he will give some to cork, which to implies a sum probably well under a million

    “Watson said he hopes to use some of the proceeds of the medal’s auction to set up an institute dedicated to George Boole at University College Cork.”

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve M
    Favourite Steve M
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Puts into perspective some of the comments you see here like yesterday “Thats why everyone hates Americans” “Americans are fat and stupid” etc

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leviathan
    Favourite Leviathan
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 3:32 PM

    Those crusties generally are only referring to white, Christian Americans. Its the safe group to slag off without offending their PC cohorts.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ollie
    Favourite Ollie
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 4:37 PM

    Well done to both

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jp quinn
    Favourite jp quinn
    Report
    Dec 10th 2014, 5:14 PM

    Boole is Cool.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute johnhindepost
    Favourite johnhindepost
    Report
    Dec 11th 2014, 12:22 AM

    100% William Rowan Hamilton, 1005 George Boole and 52% of James Watson are Irish.

    Mathematics and the fundamentals of computing discovered by Irish.
    Now we know why all these companies are setting up second base here in Ireland.
    We Irish got the geek gene……………..yehaw!!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Kelly
    Favourite Colm Kelly
    Report
    Dec 11th 2014, 4:32 AM

    Boole was English

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds