The twin laws on national security, together with and the dual setup of central-government level and special administrative region level institutions on national security, serve as the bedrock of the city’s much-credited rule of law, central government officials said on Monday.
The officials made their remarks at the opening ceremony for this year’s National Security Education Day, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking the first NSED to be held since the enactment in March of the city’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the promulgation of the NSL advanced the city from chaos to governance in 2020, and the implementation of the new ordinance marked a turning point, signaling a new chapter in the city’s rule of law in terms of its maturity and functionality
The ordinance, which prohibits five types of national security crimes, complements the National Security Law for Hong Kong, enacted in 2020, to safeguard national security.
Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the promulgation of the NSL advanced the city from chaos to governance in 2020, and the implementation of the new ordinance marked a turning point, signaling a new chapter in the city’s rule of law in terms of its maturity and functionality.
The dual institutions Zheng was referring to are the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR.
With the two laws now implemented and the dual institutions set up, Zheng said, full play can effectively be given to the dual safeguards of ensuring the central government’s purview over national security matters, and holding HKSAR responsible for safeguarding national security.
Much needs to be done to ensure the twin laws and dual setup are properly implemented, which could be a protracted battle, Zheng said.
To this end, the steady and sustained implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle must be upheld, he added. In the meantime, the city should ensure it makes full use of the twin laws and the dual setup to achieve a high level of national security and high-quality development, he said.
It should also promote a sense of national identity and patriotism among its residents and remain confident and resolved over the city’s future amid a complex world economic landscape, he continued. The good implementation of the twin laws and dual setup also requires the firm support of the chief executive and the governing team of the HKSAR to shoulder their constitutional duty, said Zheng.
Safeguarding national security is an enduring mission, as is coordinating the relationship between development and security, he added.
Addressing the same event, Dong Jingwei, head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that safeguarding national security is still a top priority for Hong Kong.
Dong said Hong Kong's open and free nature makes the city susceptible to external interference and disruption. Given to the city’s close ties with the motherland, the safety of Hong Kong is vital to national security, Dong said.
He added that safeguarding national security is an ongoing and essential task that requires persistent efforts.
