Hong Kong: alarm over proposed law that could ban anyone from leaving

If a  country has to have a law against its citizens leaving, except real criminals fleeing true justice, it is proof it is a lousy place to live.

Repressive governments like Russia and China have to keep expanding because their repression also represses creativity and productivity, so they have to keep expanding to maintain their economy.  And they have to force people to stay to keep the most creative and productive from leaving.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/13/hong-kong-alarm-over-proposed-law-that-could-ban-anyone-from-leaving

Agence France-Presse
Sat 13 Feb 2021 00.13 EST

The influential Hong Kong Bar Association has spoken out against a government proposal that could give “apparently unfettered power” to the immigration director to stop anyone leaving the city.

The Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) expressed alarm on Friday in a paper submitted to the city’s legislative council about the proposed law, which could bar any individual – whether resident or not – from boarding a carrier out of the financial hub.

“It is particularly troubling that the grounds on which such an intrusive power may be exercised are not stated in the proposed legislation, and no explanation for why such a power is necessary, or even how it is intended to be used, is set out,” HKBA said in the submission.

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Since the imposition of a new national security law in June last year, an increasing number of democracy activists and politicians have fled into exile, as China tightens its grip on the semi-autonomous city.

The political situation has also prompted a broader exodus of Hongkongers, many of whom are taking up immigration plans offered by places including the UK, Canada and nearby Taiwan.

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Since Beijing’s imposition of the national security law to snuff out huge democracy protests, nearly 100 people, including democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and prominent activist Joshua Wong, have been arrested.

Four of them have been charged with crimes that could bring them life imprisonment if convicted.