HKSAR national security law to boost 'one country, two systems' practice
The law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region marks a milestone in advancing the cause of "one country, two systems," an official said Wednesday.
The law is designed to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle and will strengthen institutional safeguards against national security risks in Hong Kong, said Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference in Beijing.
The law will have a far-reaching impact on ensuring the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems," Zhang said.
The new law fully complies with the "one country, two systems" principle and perfectly combines adhering to "one country" and respecting the differences between "two systems," said Zhang.
To some extent, the law is aimed at correcting deviations from the right track of "one country, two systems" that occurred in the HKSAR, Zhang said.
"No one cherishes 'one country, two systems' more than us, and no one understands its true essence better than us," he said, noting that no country would ignore the constant occurrence of crimes endangering its security.
He also stressed that enacting a law on safeguarding national security in a local administrative region is entirely an internal affair of China.
Noting the law is a landmark for refining the central authorities' policy in relation to the governance of Hong Kong, he added that it also demonstrates that the central authorities attach greater importance to the top-level design of the system for the governance of Hong Kong and on the rule of law.
The law targets only a tiny group of criminals who endanger national security and will be a "sharp sword" hanging over their heads, Zhang said, adding that it will also serve as a deterrent to external forces who interfere in Hong Kong affairs.
Zhang also noted that the law will fully protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the vast majority of Hong Kong residents, and the legitimate rights and interests of overseas investors in Hong Kong.
It will be the bedrock underpinning the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, Zhang said.
Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday voted to adopt the 66-article law and later passed a decision to list the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.
The law on safeguarding national security in HKSAR came into force in Hong Kong at 11:00pm local time on Tuesday upon its promulgation by the HKSAR government in the gazette.
