Hong Kong’s two national security laws – the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance – will take the special administrative region to new heights after having removed all obstacles and strengthened the city’s unique advantages.
Central government and HKSAR officials made the remarks on Saturday at the “National Security Legal Forum – Looking Back and Ahead, New Dawn for Development"
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Speaking at the one-day forum, organized by the SAR’s Department of Justice, Nong Rong, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, said the central government cares about “one country, two systems” more than anyone else, and the NSL has boosted Hong Kong’s strengths, allowing the city to better focus on development and fully unleash the community’s immense creativity.
National security is fundamental to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong society, as well as the people’s peaceful living environment, said the CE
The central authorities firmly support Hong Kong in maintaining the common law system, as well as consolidating and giving full play to its strengths in the rule of law.
Nong emphasized that Hong Kong’s national security laws have never been meant to “lock Hong Kong up”, but to “accurately identify burglars and protect friends”. As Hong Kong remains as one of the world’s freest and most open economies, entrepreneurs from all over the world are welcomed to the city to pursue their dreams.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said national security is fundamental to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong society, as well as the people’s peaceful living environment.
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He noted that national security risks have persisted since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland in 1997. The central government’s decisive action in enacting the NSL has filled an important part of the city’s vacuum in national security laws, improved the electoral system, and implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, enabling the SAR to return to the right track.
Lee said the NSL and the SNSO are complementary to each other, constructing an institutional safeguard for maintaining security and stability, while promoting good governance.
He pledged that the SAR government will continue to promote education on national security, patriotism and Chinese culture, so as to build up a mainstream value that promotes affirmation for the country and Hong Kong.
Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, pointed out that the city’s dual national security laws and their enforcement mechanisms mark a milestone in developing the rule of law in Hong Kong, with full respect and protection for human rights.
The two laws have mended the vacuums in the SAR’s national security system and ensure that "one country, two systems” is on the right track, he said.
Dong Jingwei, head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, said the rule of law is the most important foundation for business, and security and stability are the most important guarantees for development.
Enforcing the two national security laws has improved Hong Kong’s rule of law and created a more conducive effect on its economic development, he said.
Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR Cui Jianchun said the Commissioner’s Office will do its utmost to serve the development of Hong Kong, safeguard the city’s unique advantages, help Hong Kong consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, and accelerate the procedures of forming new quality productive forces.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok stressed that Hong Kong has adhered faithfully to the fundamental principles of the rule of law under the common law system in enacting and applying the national security law, and will continue to do so in the future.
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He said the Department of Justice has uploaded the Chinese version of “Annotations of the Hong Kong National Security Law and Sedition Offenses in the Crimes Ordinance” and published “Compendium 2024” -- a collection of articles, presentations and documents on the NSL to strengthen the public and legal sector’s understanding of the national security laws.
The forum also featured a session with leading figures from the financial sector, business community and venture capital enterprises to discuss Hong Kong’s future development after stabilizing national security, and ways of improving the economy.
Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
