Hong Kong's controversial national security law that China wants to implement

Beijing : China's parliament has proposed a new security law to be implemented in Hong Kong. The proposal has been submitted for deliberation on Friday.

The move, which has been opposed by the US and Hong Kong pro-democracy figures, can potentially start protests in the semi-autonomous financial hub.

Article 23 of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, says the city must enact national security legislation to prohibit "treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion" against the Chinese government.

The Article 23 has not been implemented so far due to public fears it would curtail Hong Kong's cherished rights, such as freedom of expression and the press.

Those liberties are unseen on the mainland and are protected by an agreement made before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

An attempt was made in 2003 and people had come on the streets protesting against it, following which then security chief Regina Ip had to resign following the failure.

China's move would authorise its lawmakers to circumvent Hong Kong's legislature and directly enact the legislation at a future date.

What's next?

After China approves the law then it will be implemented locally, an unprecedented move that could spark a further wave of protests.

In a statement Friday, Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam vowed to "fully cooperate" with Beijing over the law.

The Hong Kong government will "complete the legislation as soon as possible to discharge its responsibility of safeguarding national security," said Lam, who is attending the NPC.