‘Soft resistance’ is the ‘most malicious’ threat to nat. security in Hong Kong – security chief

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, has identified "soft resistance" as the most dangerous threat to the city’s national security, according to a recent interview. "The evil of soft resistance lies in the fact that you may not know it is evil," Tang stated. He explained that soft resistance is dangerous because it may appear to come from good people, making it harder to recognize.

Tang is one of several officials who have cited "soft resistance" as a potential threat to national security, though they have not provided a clear definition of the term. The term originated in a speech by Luo Huining, then-director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, in 2021. The "four great threats to national security" listed by Tang include foreign interference, domestic terrorism, fugitives promoting Hong Kong independence, and soft resistance.

Tang emphasized that soft resistance presents unique challenges because it is not always illegal, and legal action can only be taken if it is determined to be illegal.