Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor signs the promulgation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on June 30, 2020. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect at 11 pm on Tuesday.

The promulgation of the law was signed by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and published in the Gazette, according to a statement issued by the HKSAR government.

The law was passed at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, earlier in the day.

The NPC Standing Committee consulted the HKSAR Basic Law Committee and the HKSAR government and listed the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.

The law that has 66 articles in six chapters clearly defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security; the offenses and their corresponding penalties; jurisdiction, applicable law and procedure; office of the central people's government for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR; and other contents. 

FULL TEXT: Law on safeguarding national security in HKSAR