Final answer:
The new security law on Hong Kong was imposed after extended pro-democracy protests and concerns about legal rights under the proposed extradition legislation. It reflects China's increasing control over Hong Kong's semi-autonomous status, promised under the "one country, two systems" principle since the 1997 handover from Britain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Chinese government imposed a new security law on Hong Kong after a prolonged period of pro-democracy protests and growing tensions between the city's activists and Chinese officials. This law was enacted in response to mass protests that stemmed from concerns over proposed extradition legislation, which many Hongkongers feared would erode their legal rights and subject them to the mainland's judicial system. Despite the withdrawal of the extradition bill, the security law was introduced in June 2020, leading to the arrest of over 10,000 demonstrators and charges against more than 2,400 individuals. These events escalated in the backdrop of the historical context where Hong Kong, formerly a British colony, was promised a degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" principle after its 1997 handover to China. Considering the recent events and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the contentious security law signifies China's tightening grip on Hong Kong's semi-autonomous status.