Hong Kong legislators unanimously passed a new national security law on Tuesday, introducing penalties such as life imprisonment for crimes related to treason and insurrection, and up to 20 years in jail for the theft of state secrets.

The law, which the United States, Britain and the European Union have warned could further curtail freedoms in Hong Kong, was fast-tracked through the legislative process.

UN rights chief Volker Turk denounced the "rushed" adoption, criticising it as "a regressive step for the protection of human rights".

But city leader John Lee called it "a historic moment for Hong Kong", adding that the law would come into effect Saturday.

The government's previous attempt to introduce Article 23 -- as it is commonly referred to -- was in 2003, but it was dropped after half a million Hong Kongers took to the streets in protest.

Lee had repeatedly cited Hong Kong's "constitutional responsibility" to create the new law as required by the Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution since its handover from Britain to China in 1997.

The homegrown legislation will work in tandem with the national security law........

© International Business Times