30/06/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 30 June, on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the entry into force of the National Security Law in Hong Kong on 30 June 2020, the European Union regretted that the last five years had “seen a continuous erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong, and a severe restriction of the space for the political opposition and independent civil society”. To date, 332 people have been arrested for national security-related offences, the EEAS said in a press release; 165 people have been convicted. The EU regrets that the additional national security legislation (the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation) has introduced new offences, increased penalties and strengthened the powers of the security authorities. (SP)