London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

7 ways Hong Kong police use new law to search without warrant, freeze assets, control internet

7 ways Hong Kong police use new law to search without warrant, freeze assets, control internet

Under new regulations, police in Hong Kong have been granted unprecedented powers. Officers will be allowed to conduct warrantless searches at private properties, restrict the movement of suspects, freeze their assets, intercept communications and require internet service providers to remove information.

Hong Kong authorities have moved swiftly after Beijing issued the Hong Kong National Security Law in 1 July.

On Monday night, the government published details of Article 43 of the law in its official gazette after the first meeting of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, chaired by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.


The committee is attended by Beijing’s top representative, Luo Huining, who was appointed as Hong Kong's “National Security Advisor” last week. 

The seven elements of Article 43 tell Hong Kong people in clear terms how their freedoms are now restricted. Based on regulations reminiscent of China’s own national security laws, they are now official policy. The wording is slightly different from the original mainland text, and existing Hong Kong regulations have been included. 

1.    Search of “places of evidence”: police can be authorised to enter premises without a warrant under “urgent” (and non-specified) situations to search for “evidence”. 

2.    Restriction of movement of people under investigation: police can apply for a warrant to demand suspects to surrender their travel documents, preventing them from leaving Hong Kong.

3.    Freezing of property: the secretary for security can authorise the freezing of assets of people suspected of “endangering national security” if they have “reasonable grounds”.

4.    Removal of Messages endangering national security: police will be able to act on online content when they have “reasonable grounds” to suspect information endangers national security. In practice, this may mean that a publisher or network service provider could be forced to remove the information. 

Failure to do so could lead to a fine of HK$100,000 and one year in jail. In reaction, Facebook and its WhatsApp messenger service, as well as Twitter, video-conferencing app Zoom and the Russian-based chat-facility Telegram said they will temporarily refuse requests by Hong Kong authorities to hand over user information. Popular video app TikTok – a Chinese company – have said they will leave Hong Kong. 

5.    Requiring NGO’s to provide data: police can now require international political organisations and entities based in Taiwan to hand over data on their activities in Hong Kong, along with personal data, sources of income and expenditure. 

Failure to comply could result in a fine of HK$100,000 and six months in jail. Earlier on, Beijing sanctioned NGOs with US headquarters, such as Human Rights Watch, in retaliation for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, sponsored by the US Congress in December 2019. 

6.    Eavesdropping: police may monitor phone or internet exchanges and carry out “less intrusive” covert surveillance. The authorities must ensure that any secret operations meet the criteria of “proportionality” and “necessity,” but the document does not give any specifications.

7.    Demand random information: police can demand that those suspected of “endangering national security” should hand over any material that is found to be “relevant to the investigation”.

The law will have direct implications on how lawmakers, journalists and NGOs operate in Hong Kong.

Late Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke out against "Orwellian" moves to censor activists, schools and libraries since the law was enacted.

“Until now, Hong Kong flourished because it allowed free thinking and free speech, under an independent rule of law. No more," Pompeo said.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
×