Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (right) congratulates newly appointed Secretary-General of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Eric Chan Kwok-ki on his new appointment, in Hong Kong, July 2, 2020. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

BEIJING - The State Council on Thursday appointed Eric Chan Kwok-ki as secretary-general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

In accordance with stipulations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, Chan was appointed upon nomination by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Prior to his new appointment, Chan served as the director of the Chief Executive's Office. He was also formerly the director of immigration.

Chan took the oath of office Thursday afternoon.

Lam said Chan has had a distinguished performance in leading the Chief Executive's Office, adding that he is capable of taking up the new post in addition to his existing post to lead the secretariat to support the committee to fulfil its crucial responsibility to safeguard national security. 

The national security law in Hong Kong stipulated that a committee chaired by the chief executive will be established to take up national security affairs and bear the major responsibility for safeguarding national security and it will be under the supervision of and be accountable to the Central People's Government.

Its members will include the HKSAR government's chief secretary for administration, the financial secretary, the secretary for justice, the secretary for security, the commissioner of police, the head of the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force, the director of immigration, the commissioner of customs and excise, and the director of the Chief Executive’s Office.

The secretariat under the committee is to be headed by the secretary-general.

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The national security law in Hong Kong aims to prevent, suppress and punish crimes endangering national security in relation to Hong Kong and to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. 

The HKSAR government will spare no effort in enforcing the law to achieve the legislative objectives, and, in doing so, better the "one country, two systems" institutional system for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, said Lam during a press conference on the law on Wednesday.

With Xinhua inputs