When Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously passed a strict national security law under Article 23 of its mini-constitution, China's state broadcaster CCTV beat out its competitors by posting the results of the vote nearly 20 minutes before the Council's 89 lawmakers had started voting. The Council members won their seats under new electoral rules that allow only “patriots” loyal to Beijing to stand. Their unanimous vote for a law that makes treason, insurrection and sabotage punishable by up to life in prison called to mind China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress.
