China parliament approves Hong Kong national security bill

China's parliament has approved a decision to move forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that critics fear could undermine the city's autonomy.

The National People's Congress on Thursday voted 2,878 to 1 in favour of the decision to empower its standing committee to draft the legislation, with six abstentions.

The legislators gathered in the Great Hall of the People burst into sustained applause when the vote tally was projected onto screens.

China says the legislation will be aimed at tackling secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city but the plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months.

The security law will alter the territory's mini-constitution, or Basic Law, to require its government to enforce measures to be decided later by Chinese leaders. The plans have prompted widespread condemnation and strained China's relations with the United States and Britain.

Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said the Chinese move "is taking place without any consultation, any debate with Hong Kong's leaders or its government".

"China is taking advantage of a legal loophole that completely bypasses Hong Kong's legislative process." _Agencies

Dhaka/AKA