The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Sunday strongly condemned the untruthful editorial by The Washington Post on the Safeguarding National Security (Procedural Matters) Regulation enacted by the HKSAR government.

A LegCo spokesperson said in a statement that it also supported the HKSAR government in strongly condemning the Washington Post for its “double standards and wanton smearing and slandering”.

“Safeguarding national security is not Hong Kong's nightmare, but rather a constitutional responsibility and an inherent duty of the HKSAR,” the statement reads, adding that the United States has at least 21 pieces of legislation on safeguarding national security.

“The Washington Post, however, deliberately targeted and pointed fingers at the HKSAR's continuous efforts in improving its legal system to fulfil a constitutional duty to safeguard national security,” it said.

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“That fully displayed their unreasonable anti-China stance and double standards, and clearly violated the professional ethics of journalists,” it added.

The spokesperson said the enactment of the Procedural Matters Regulation on June 9, 2026 was a move by the HKSAR to keep pace with the times and to continuously optimize and improve the laws and mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

Under the regulation, if the Chief Executive issues a certificate under Article 47 of the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law (NSL) or section 115 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), to certify that an act in a criminal case involves national security, then the case will be treated as one involving an offense endangering national security.

The spokesperson said the regulation is entirely reasonable, rational and lawful and the issuance of the certificate by the Chief Executive is a rigorous and solemn action that is in line with common law principles.

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“As a matter of fact, it is a well-established principle at common law, upheld by the highest courts of common law jurisdictions (including the US) that the courts accord deference to the assessments and judgments of the executive authorities on national security,” the statement reads.

The regulation can also provide a safer and more stable business environment for investment and economic development and “such indisputable facts cannot be recklessly smeared by any anti-China media with ulterior motives”, it added.

The spokesperson said that the LegCo formed a subcommittee on June 11 in accordance with the negative vetting procedure to scrutinize the Procedural Matters Regulation prudently, with members raising nearly 60 views and questions about the regulation.

The LegCo spokesperson said that since the implementation of the NSL, the SNSO and their relevant subsidiary legislation, the social and economic environment in the HKSAR has returned to safety and stability.

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The stabilizing force of the national security legislation has been immediate, instilling confidence in the general public and the international community regarding Hong Kong's development in all aspects under "one country, two systems", the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the recently released Global Wealth Report 2026, which shows that Hong Kong has become the world's leading cross-boundary wealth management center, indicated that international investors have cast a vote of trust and confidence in Hong Kong's safe, free and stable systems and business environment.