Some Hong Kong lawmakers protested against Beijing enacting Hong Kong security laws, warning it was an "end to" for the special zone.

The National People's Congress, the Chinese parliament, today introduced a draft of the Hong Kong security law at its annual meeting, which banned all separatist, overthrowing, and intervention activities of

News of the bill, which was quickly released yesterday, was opposed by lawmakers and democracy activists in Hong Kong, calling it an "end to Hong Kong", with concerns that the law would destabilize

China announced it wanted to pass a new security law after Hong Kong was rocked by seven months of continuous protests last year, sometimes even breaking out into violence between protesters and police.

According to Chinese parliamentary spokesperson Zhang Nghiep Toai, the bill, introduced on the first day of parliamentary meetings, will strengthen the "law enforcement mechanism" at the Hong Kong financial center.

The National Assembly of China said that "it is necessary to improve and maintain the policy of" One country, two regimes ", Mr. Zhang said.

If adopted, China's new move would go against Hong Kong's Article 23 of the 2003 Basic Law, requiring the city government to issue its own security laws to prohibit counter-acts, secession,

However, this provision has never been enforced due to concerns that it will limit the rights that have been promoted for a long time in Hong Kong.

Attempts to enact Article 23 have been postponed after half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets last year to protest.

Mr. Zhang did not elaborate on the bill, but if it goes to parliament, it will almost certainly be passed.

State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus warned that imposing security laws on Hong Kong would "cause great instability, as well as strong opposition from the US and the international community".

US President Donald Trump also vowed to react toughly if Hong Kong's security laws were passed.

DAB, Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing political party, voiced support for the bill, calling it a "responsible move", but the opposition lawmakers opposed it, expressing anger.

"This is the end for Hong Kong, the end for the 'One country, two regimes' policy, don't equate the two," said Dennis Kwok, a lawmaker at the Citizens Party.

Legislator Tany Chan said that Beijing "showed disrespect to the people of Hong Kong" by trying to enact the law without consulting it.

"A lot of Hong Kong people are angry like we are right now, but we must remember not to give up," she said.

Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong before the city was handed over in 1997, said the bill would signal "a comprehensive attack on the city's autonomy" and "cause serious damage."

Hong Kong has its own legislature, called the Legislative Council.

"This move points out two things that can happen," said Adam Ni, director of the China Policy Center based in Canberra, Australia.

"One, Beijing does not believe that security laws can be easily adopted by the Hong Kong Legislative Assembly. Second, protests and dissent have made the passage of security laws more urgent."

Maya Wang, senior researcher for China at Human Rights Watch, called it a "warning bell" for "the end of Hong Kong".

"Hong Kong has always been a safe harbor for dissidents, it is the light, conscience, the voice of truth before China's growing might," Wang wrote on Twitter.

Last year, Congress angered China by passing a bill that would deprive Hong Kong of special trade status in the United States if the city no longer enjoyed autonomy.

US senators yesterday also proposed a bill to punish any entity involved in curbing Hong Kong's autonomy.

Senator Pat Toomey, who initiated the bill, called Hong Kong "the canaries in the Asian coal mine".

"Beijing's growing intervention may deter other countries who are fighting for freedom in the shadow of China," he said.