Chinese parliament approves controversial Hong Kong security law

Move paves way for anti-sedition laws that rights advocates say threaten freedoms, as US opposition builds

China's legislature has approved controversial national security laws for Hong Kong, dealing what critics have called a killer blow" to the city's autonomy and freedoms.

Delegates of China's National People's Congress broke out into applause in Beijing's Great Hall of the People after voting through a draft decision that paves the way for sweeping anti-sedition laws to be directly enacted in Hong Kong.