Central authorities on Tuesday hailed Hong Kong’s upcoming national security legislation as a milestone that will bolster the city’s long-term stability and prosperity,while firmly upholding the “onecountry, two systems” principle.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, passed by the city’s legislature on Tuesday and set for promulgation on Saturday, addresses Hong Kong’s constitutional responsibility outlined in Article 23 of the Basic Law. It targets five acts that threaten national security, including treason, insurrection,and theft of State secrets.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said that passage of the ordinance symbolizes the long-awaited fulfillment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s constitutional duty to safeguard national security, which resonates with the nation’s collective aspiration, shared by Hong Kong compatriots.

The law fortifies Hong Kong’s defenses against threats to its longterm stability and prosperity, enabling the city to maintain highquality and safe development that will lead to brighter prospects

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Safeguarding national security is essential for upholding the “one country, two systems” principle, preserving Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, ensuring democracy and freedom in the city, and safeguarding the rights and well-being of its residents, the statement added.

The office expects the future implementation of the ordinance to strengthen the city’s security foundation and facilitate its progress from stability to prosperity, it said.

In a separate statement, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR described the legislation as a milestone achievement since the city’s return to the motherland.

The law fortifies Hong Kong’s defenses against threats to its longterm stability and prosperity, enabling the city to maintain highquality and safe development that will lead to brighter prospects.

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In light of the 2019 social upheaval, the office said that “developing the economy and protecting livelihoods is empty talk in an unstable society”. Even after the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the city still needs to improve mechanisms to counteract ongoing national security risks, the liaison office said. 

The Office for Safeguarding  National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, established under the NSL in 2020, said in a statement that the ordinance has erected a new “great wall of rule of law” to ensure Hong Kong’s long-term stability and the steadfast implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, benefitting both local residents and international investors.

The ordinance will complement the existing NSL to close loopholes and establish a robust defense against national security threats through prevention, cessation and punitive measures.

The Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the ordinance is in step with global trends of national security legislation.

The office said the ordinance honors Hong Kong’s common law system while drawing on experiences from other common law jurisdictions, ensuring that international practices and rules are followed.

The passage of the ordinance is projected to unlock the full potential of Hong Kong’s legal system, fostering a secure, convenient, and efficient business environment.

This improvement is expected to boost investor confidence from within and beyond Hong Kong and secure the city’s position as one of the top destinations for global enterprises and professionals, the office said.