HONG KONG – Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday that the proposed national security law is an effective way to enhance the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

Speaking at a webinar organized to mark the 30th anniversary of Basic Law promulgation, Carrie Lam expressed her confidence that the city will become safe and stable again with the enactment of the law

Speaking at a webinar organized to mark the 30th anniversary of Basic Law promulgation, she expressed her confidence that the city will become safe and stable again with the enactment of the law.

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During the three-hour webinar, the city leader pledged that the SAR government will spare no efforts in cooperating with the central government in the legislation process.

She also encouraged Hong Kong people to actively express their views during the legislative process.

Over the past weekend, the central authorities, including the liaison office in the SAR, began hearing the views of people from Hong Kong on how the proposed national security law should be framed and how it should be put into practice.

READ MORE: Lam: Beijing to welcome diverse views on framing legislation

Addressing the same webinar, Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said that with the implementation of the national security legislation for Hong Kong, the SAR will be installed with “an anti-virus software” so that the society can operate in a smooth and orderly manner.

Assuring the participants of the central government's steadfast determination to implement the law, Zhang said the proposed law will further boost the SAR’s advantages, which eventually contributes to the nation’s development.

The legislation will offer more protection for the majority of Hong Kong people’s rights and freedom, especially the freedom from fear of the protest violence.

Stressing the importance of national security for a country, Zhang Yong, vice-chairman of the Basic Law Committee (BLC) of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that safeguarding national security is the top priority for the central government and a fundamental obligation for every local government.

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Hong Kong however hasn’t had any law to safeguard national security since its return to the motherland in 1997 and lacked relevant enforcement mechanisms, he pointed out. 

Given that the Hong Kong SAR has such a legal loophole, which exposed some new risks and problems related to the safeguarding of national security in recent years, Zhang said the central government cannot turn a blind eye to the issues, otherwise it will be a dereliction of duty.