The flag of Hong Kong flies from a ferry boat on July 2, 1997, a day after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule. Hong Kong on Friday unveiled a new draft security bill proposing up to life imprisonment for offences such as insurrection and treason following a month of public consultation period for the bill. The draft legislation is necessary for Hong Kong to fulfil its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, China's Ministry of National Security emphasized in its official WeChat account on Monday. Beijing imposed a controversial law four years ago, which stamped out dissent and led to the arrest of many Hong Kong pro-democracy activists. China's 2020 national security law aimed at prohibiting secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference.

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Persons: Hong, John Lee Organizations: British, China's Ministry of National Security, Hong, U.S . State Department, Kong's Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing