Hong Kong's security laws can make political protests and debates "back in the past" and the special zone will be "as normal" as other mainland cities.

Hong Kong on June 30 announced the security law, after it was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping into law and the city government passed.

Some argue that the law dealt a fatal blow to the "one-nation, two-regime" model that maintained Hong Kong's special status, freedom and law after the United Kingdom handed over its special zone to China.

"Hong Kong people understand that this puts an end to the 'one country, two regime' model, now we are like a mainland city like Shenzhen or Shanghai," said Joseph Cheng,

The new law sets out plans to build a complex of offices and offices in Hong Kong to enforce the law, including the "extended arm" of China's national security apparatus, with the right to collect intelligence.

"This is the biggest change since Hong Kong returned to China," said Danny Gittings, Hong Kong's legal status expert.

Many companies in Hong Kong are still confident that the field of commerce and contracts will not be governed by the law.

Hong Kong Special District Chief Carrie Lam confirmed to the UN Human Rights Council yesterday that the new security law does not undermine the city's judicial independence.

However, the law may have a faster and stronger effect than some people think, as in the education sector, which Beijing has warned against countering Western influence.

Hong Kong politicians loyal to Beijing and Chinese policy advisers called for rules to be enforced quickly and vigorously, quenching the risk of repeated protests such as last year.

Demosisto's party "umbrella" leader Joshua Wong yesterday announced its dissolution shortly after China passed Hong Kong security laws.

Security laws came into force an hour before the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China.

Security laws can make such protests a thing of the past, said Suzanne Pepper, a longtime independent political analyst in Hong Kong.

The growing tension between China and the United States has deepened worries about Western influence in Hong Kong.

"Beijing is particularly concerned about Hong Kong being used by the US and some Western allies as a pawn to curb China's rise," said Lau Siu-kai, a former senior official of the Hong Kong government.

The United States does not wait until the security law goes into effect to take action.

Hong Kong courts will be paid attention by observers to assess the impact of the law.

The law provides that the Chinese National Assembly Standing Committee has the final say on how to interpret the rules.

"Beijing will be able to exert influence at every stage of national security consolidation, both directly and indirectly through personnel assigned to it," said Cora Chan, an expert from the University of Hong Kong.

However, it is unlikely that a series of prosecutions will follow a new law.

In the 10 years prior to 2016 - the last year with detailed statistics, the Chinese court resolved prosecutions of state security with 8,640 defendants, according to the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights monitoring group in

Macau, which is also an administrative district like China of Hong Kong, passed national security laws that had similarities 11 years ago but has not yet prosecuted anyone under the law.

However, Hong Kong security law can be a deterrent.

"The new law ensures comprehensive central government control of the security environment in Hong Kong," said Tian Feilong, associate professor of law at Beilong University, Beijing.