hong kong chinese official admonish hong kong thursday fail introduce national security law ramp pressure former british colony enact contentious article 23 critics say choke freedoms global financial hub rule one country two systems principle since return china 1997 guarantee freedoms enjoy mainland include independent judiciary freedom expression freedoms outline mini-constitution basic law document also demand city pass laws prevent treason secession subversion communist party rulers beijing hong kong leaders past decade put pass article 23 possibly sensitive political task especially tensions run high months-long pro-democracy demonstrations 2014. beijing officials forget thursday li fei chair basic law committee chinese parliament stand committee say duty shirk believe see harmful effect legal vacuum say speech hong kong like emphasize hong kong safeguard national sovereignty security legislation strict implementation law early plan national security law hong kong shelve 2003 estimate 500,000 people march hour-long speech live-streamed school time direct students li also lash nascent independence movement go largely underground figureheads charge government call riot 2016. behavior absurd nature illegal emotionally speak absolutely impermissible say must resist oppose without hesitation li remark come chinese president xi jinping take saw hard line hong kong future visit july mark 20th anniversary 1997 handover xi warn attempt endanger chinese sovereignty security challenge china power use hong kong carry infiltration sabotage would act cross red line absolutely impermissible city new leader carrie lam bend mend damage trust beijing hong kong public repeatedly say time right introduce security laws three years youth-led demonstrations directly challenge beijing authority even without new local laws hong kong lawyers diplomats activists believe beijing may make attempt outlaw independence debate formal interpretation basic law extend national laws cover hong kong move would follow hong kong court deepen fear strength hong kong vaunt rule law freedom speech experts note beijing low threshold action preemptive interpretation basic law last year effectively disqualify lawmakers take oaths properly also rule last month outlaw mockery national anthem decide law would extend hong kong take effect put city legislature china push hong kong 'shirk duty enact contentious security law