Today marks the 10th National Security Education Day. Having witnessed the insurrection in 2019-20 as well as the creation and implementation of a complete national security regime in the special administrative region, national security awareness in Hong Kong society has deepened. National security education (NSE) has been increasingly well received by society, which in turn reinforces national security awareness, creating a virtuous cycle.
Over the past decade, NSE has developed from scratch, from theory to practice, and has become a cornerstone in safeguarding the long-term stability of the country. Hong Kong’s experience of safeguarding national security has become an important chapter in NSE.
On July 1, 2015, the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China was enacted, and April 15 designated as National Security Education Day, marking the entry of national security work into a new stage of “rule of law and standardization”. National security is the most basic requirement for a country’s survival and development, and it is also the basic guarantee for people to live and work in peace and happiness.
National security is not a one-dimensional concept but a comprehensive system covering 20 key areas, including political, military, territorial, economic, financial, cultural, social, scientific, technological, cyber, food, ecological, resource, nuclear, overseas interests, space, deep sea, polar, biological, artificial intelligence, and data. This comprehensive concept of national security reflects the systematic and complex nature of contemporary national security governance and the high importance the State attaches to security issues.
Hong Kong has been a Chinese territory since ancient times. It was occupied by the British after the opium wars in the 1840s until July 1, 1997, when the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. In accordance with Article 31 of China’s Constitution, the State established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and practicing a high degree of autonomy according to the Basic Law.
Historical experience has shown that national security is indispensable for maintaining prosperity. As the saying goes, “Only if there is a country can there be a home; only if the country is safe can the home be prosperous; and only if the country is prosperous can the people be at peace.” Therefore, national security is not an empty concept for Hong Kong people; it matters to their well-being.
The development of Hong Kong’s national security system has gone through a process of moving “from deficiency to perfection”, which profoundly reflects the unique development path of the city’s national security regime. In the initial period after the handover, Hong Kong’s national security legal system had obvious shortcomings because of historical reasons and the complex social environment, resulting in a prolonged lack of adequate legal tools to deal with national security threats.
In 2019, Hong Kong was plunged into serious social unrest. The eruption of “black-clad” riots not only seriously undermined the rule of law and social stability but also posed a serious challenge to national security.
Faced with this crisis, the central authorities acted decisively and enacted the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) in June 2020, plugging the legal loopholes in Hong Kong’s national security protection. The law criminalizes secession, subversion of State power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security, providing a powerful legal weapon to restore peace and order in Hong Kong. Following the implementation of the NSL, Hong Kong quickly restored stability, the rule of law and social order, as well as international investors’ confidence.
In 2024, the HKSAR government, in fulfillment of its constitutional responsibility, completed the legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law by enacting the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which clearly defines the offenses of treason, secession, sedition, subversion and theft of State secrets. The NSL and SNSO constitute a “double insurance” for the protection of national security in Hong Kong.
Compared with the turbulent situation in 2019-20, Hong Kong today boasts a well-ordered society where the rule of law is respected and the public’s awareness of national security has been greatly enhanced. These improvements to the legal system not only ensure Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability but also lay a solid foundation for “one country, two systems” to function smoothly in the future.
As geopolitical rivalry has worsened in recent years, some Western countries have repeatedly played the “Hong Kong card” in their attempts to curb China’s development, including encouraging and supporting anti-China forces in the city. Such external interference not only undermines the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong, but also poses a serious threat to national security.
Faced with this challenge, the HKSAR must optimize its national security regime, and at the same time strengthen NSE.
In recent years, the HKSAR government has actively promoted NSE, integrating “national education” with “patriotic education”, and fostering a stronger sense of national identity and responsibility among young people.
With the popularization of NSE, Hong Kong society has become increasingly aware of the importance of national security, laying a solid social foundation for the smooth implementation of “one country, two systems”.
The author is a law professor, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, and president of the Association for the Promotion of Rule of Law, Education and Technologies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
