The new Hong Kong security law will be a "sword" hanging over the heads of those who endanger national security, with Beijing and city authorities working together to enforce it, China said Tuesday.

Official news agency Xinhua said President Xi Jinping signed the law into effect after all 163 members of China's top lawmaking body voted unanimously to adopt it, and include it in Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

Critics and western governments fear the law will stifle freedoms in the semi-autonomous city.

But Beijing and Hong Kong's government have insisted the law will only target a minority of people and will restore business confidence after a year of pro-democracy protests rocked the city.

"For the small minority who endanger national security, this law will be a sword hanging over their heads," said China's main body for Hong Kong affairs.

But "for the vast majority of Hong Kong residents and foreigners in Hong Kong, this law is a guardian spirit that protects their freedoms," the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said.

The statement added that the central and city governments would "jointly" ensure the law is implemented, and "usher in a turning point, for chaos to turn into governance".

Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong said the implementation of the law "is a major improvement of one country, two systems", referring to the system of governance applied in Hong Kong.

It said "no one should underestimate the central government's determination to maintain Hong Kong's national security" or "underestimate the ability of the central and special agencies to enforce laws strictly".

Hong Kong's tumultuous path to the national security law
Hong Kong (AFP) June 30, 2020 - As part of the 1997 handover from Britain, China agreed to guarantee Hong Kong certain freedoms -- as well as judicial and legislative autonomy -- for 50 years in a deal known as "One Country, Two Systems".

Beijing says that promise is still being respected even after Tuesday's move to impose a secretive national security law on the restless city.

Critics, rights groups and some Western nations say the legislation is just the latest step by China to chip away at the city's civil liberties over the years.

Here is a timeline of how that tension has unfolded:

- 2003: First security law attempt

The first major protests to hit Hong Kong after the handover were sparked by the local government's attempt to pass a national security law.

Article 23 of the Basic Law -- Hong Kong's mini constitution -- says the city must create a law prohibiting "treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion".

But the law was never implemented due to public fears it would curtail the city's similarly constitutionally guaranteed free speech laws.

Half a million took to the streets. The bill was shelved and then city leader Tung Chee-hwa eventually stepped down.

- 2012: Education reform

A period of comparative political calm followed.

But in 2012, an attempt to usher in more patriotic classes sparked student protests.

Led by then 15-year-old activist Joshua Wong, tens of thousands of students, parents and teachers rallied against the plan which was eventually scrapped.

- 2014: No universal suffrage

Article 45 of Hong Kong's Basic Law stipulates that the "ultimate aim" is for the city's leader to be selected by "universal suffrage".

But this promise has never been fulfilled.

In 2014, Beijing offered its version of universal suffrage -- Hong Kongers would be able to choose from a small group of pre-vetted candidates.

The announcement sparked a 79-day occupation of major thoroughfares known as the "Umbrella Movement".

- 2015: Disappearing booksellers

Under "One Country, Two Systems" Hong Kong polices itself.

But the disappearance into mainland custody of five people working for a bookstore publishing salacious titles about China's leaders ignited fears Beijing's security services had abandoned that principle.

The booksellers later appeared on TV in mainland China admitting to a variety of crimes.

A billionaire businessman also disappeared in 2016, and later surfaced in mainland custody charged with corruption.

- 2016/17: Lawmakers disqualified -

Between 2016 and 2017, it became clear certain political views would no longer be allowed.

Two pro-independence and four pro-democracy lawmakers were disqualified from Hong Kong's legislature for changing their oaths of office to protest Chinese rule.

In a rare interpretation of the Basic Law, Beijing said any oath taker who was not "sincere and solemn" manner should be disqualified.

- 2019: Extradition bill

In 2019, the Hong Kong government tried to fast-track a bill through the city's partially elected legislature that would have allowed extraditions to China's Communist Party-controlled courts.

The move sparked the biggest protests Hong Kong had witnessed since the handover.

Millions took to the streets during seven months of unrest while a smaller section of hardcore protesters frequently battled police in often-violent confrontations that saw more than 9,000 arrested.

The movement soon morphed into a new call for democracy and police accountability.

- 2020: National security law -

In a bid to quell protests, Beijing passed a national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday in an unusually speedy and opaque process.

The law bypassed Hong Kong's legislature entirely. The city's 7.5 million inhabitants were not shown details of the law even as it was passed.

A summary published by China's official Xinhua news agency Xinhua this month said the legislation would cover subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

China's security agencies will be able to set up shop publicly in the city for the first time.

And Beijing will have jurisdiction over some cases, toppling the legal firewall that has existed between Hong Kong and mainland courts.

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Chinese lawmakers discuss Hong Kong security law ahead of expected vote
Beijing (AFP) June 28, 2020
China moved a step closer to passing a controversial law targeting dissent in Hong Kong after a top law-making committee discussed the bill on Sunday, state media reported. The Communist Party leadership says the national security law is needed to end political unrest after the city was rocked by months of pro-democracy protests last year, but critics fear the law would smother the financial hub's treasured freedoms. Delegates at a meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee rev ... read more