On 30 June 2020, China introduced the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong in response to massive pro-democracy protests that had swept through the city the previous year. The controversial law reduces Hong Kong's judicial autonomy and makes it easier to punish demonstrators and activists. It criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Since it was enacted more than 100 people - including protesters, pro-democracy politicians and journalists - have been arrested under its provisions. Beijing insists that the law is needed to bring stability to the city, but critics say it violates the "one country, two systems" principle under which the former British colony was handed back to China. The one thing many Hong Kongers do agree on however, is that in the year since the law was enacted, life has fundamentally changed. We spoke to seven of them to find out how. Names have been changed where indicated to protect identities. The civil servant who fled Sander* gave up his highly coveted civil servant job to move to the UK under a scheme it introduced in response to the NSL. It allowed holders of British National (Overseas), or BNO, passports, which were issued to Hong Kong residents before 1997 - when Hong Kong was handed back to China - to apply for a special type of visa that puts them on a fast track to settlement and citizenship. Sander decided to move to Manchester under the scheme when he opted to resign instead of taking an oath that would require all civil servants to swear allegiance to the Hong Kong government. He says he was worried that civil servants would have to carry out political tasks against their conscience to serve an increasingly authoritarian government. "The national security law is to purge all the people Beijing doesn't like, including the pan-democrats and the Hong Kong people who don't support the Chinese Communist Party," he said. Sander is grateful for the opportunity to start a new life in the UK, but says there are new challenges and difficulties. "Hong Kongers often have difficulties applying for national insurance and driving licences," he said. Both documents are essential in job-seeking. He spent two months looking for jobs, but didn't hear back from anyone. Sander says he misses Hong Kong, especially food like beef brisket noodles. But he is pessimistic about its political future and isn't even sure he will ever visit.