BEIJING (AP) Chinas ceremonial parliament will consider a bill that could limit opposition activity in Hong Kong, a spokesperson said Thursday, appearing to confirm speculation that China will sidestep the territorys own lawmaking body in enacting legislation to crack down on activity Beijing considers subversive.

Zhang Yesui said the National Peoples Congress will deliberate a bill on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security.

Such a move has long been under consideration but was hastened by months of anti-government protests last year in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Such legislation was last proposed in 2003 under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kongs mini-constitution, bringing hundreds of thousands of the territorys citizens out in protest.