News Analysis Since the National Security Law (NSL) passed on June 30, 2020, Hong Kong people have been subjected to harsh persecution. The law limits freedom of speech and gives the government broad authority to arrest individuals on vague charges and sentence them to up to life imprisonment. Despite the massive protests in response to the law, many Hong Kong citizens are now fleeing in the wake of the persecution. Xia Baolong, a staunch proponent of the draconian law and head of the Chinese State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office warned that the NSL “is an iron bottom line,” reported 163.com. No Freedom Below the Iron Bottom Line Xia boasted about the implementation of the law. On July 16, after one year of the law coming into effect, he emphasized that “anti-China and Hong Kong-disrupting elements mustn’t be allowed to enter the governing architecture,” reported state-run Xinhua News. Individuals accused of …