This screen grab taken from video shows Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, addressing an online conference held to mark the fifth National Security Education Day.
HONG KONG - Hong Kong must not emerge as a weak link in the nation’s security fabric, Luo Huining, the central government’s top official in Hong Kong said on Wednesday.
Addressing an online conference held to mark the fifth National Security Education Day, the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the mechanism for maintaining national security in Hong Kong was not yet perfect, resulting in a relatively low recognition of the importance of national security among its people since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland 23 years ago.
In the opinion of Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, observing the rule of law remains an important part of safeguarding national security
“Such a weak link would be detrimental to the nation’s security in critical moments,” Luo said.
Hong Kong should enact, amend and activate national security laws and put the relevant law enforcement mechanism in place as soon as possible to prevent the city from posing a potential risk to the nation’s security, he said.
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Luo stressed that national security is part of people’s daily lives. For example, the current epidemic prevention and control efforts is not only a matter of national security but also a battle that concerns each family, said Luo.
In his opinion, observing the rule of law remains an important part of safeguarding national security. Hong Kong should have zero tolerance to any act that would jeopardize the rule of law, he said.
Since last June, radicalism and street violence have undermined the city’s long-established core value – the rule of law. The advocacy of separatism during pro-longed social unrest has destabilized Hong Kong, challenging the “one country, two systems” principle and threatening the nation’s security, Luo said.
Radical acts have continued to divide and batter the city even when it is in a desperate need of concerted efforts to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, Luo continued, noting that without the rule of law, there would be no stability, peace and order.
If such unlawfulness was allowed to go on unchecked, copycat acts would materialize and the next thing could be a direct challenge to national security and to the interests of Hong Kong people, Luo said.
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In fact, safeguarding the national security is to protect Hong Kong’s fundamental interests, he said.
Luo urged every Hong Kong resident to become a “guardian” and a “facilitator” of civility and the rule of law to propel the society forward.
“As long as people shoulder their responsibilities and stay united, we can overcome all challenges,” Luo stressed.
