A Hong Kong hotel has been transformed into the headquarters of China’s new “national security” enforcement apparatus.
Early Wednesday morning, local time, Hong Kong and Chinese officials christened the building, formerly the Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay, by inaugurating it as the Office for Safeguarding National Security.
The transformation from a skyscraper hotel to security headquarters appeared to happen overnight. After construction signs first went up, a flagpole followed before a heavy law enforcement presence flooded the nearby streets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hours later, the hotel had been turned into Beijing’s new security agency for Hong Kong.
“The fact that it was opening first thing this morning—I didn’t know about it until after the fact,” said Claudia Mo, a pro-democratic member of Hong Kong’s legislature. “It’s all secretive.”
“The way it juts into the sky,” Mo said. “It’s such a visual and physical reminder that big brother is watching.”
The creation of the new office comes as China implements its new “national security” law for the territory. The law criminalizes acts such as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces but does so very broadly, leaving room for oppression. Already, multiple people have been arrested simply for waving Hong Kong independence flags. For that offense, they could face years in prison.
The new law also allows for the creation of an enforcement agency controlled by China. The hotel will be where the agency operates for the time being.
