The Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee held 12 seminars in Hong Kong on Tuesday to solicit opinions from various local sectors on the draft law on safeguarding national security in the special administrative region.
The commission, together with Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, heard suggestions from 120 representatives from Hong Kong’s political, legal, business, financial, educational, technological, cultural, and religious communities, as well as social organizations and regional groups.
It is imperative for the central government to retain jurisdiction over certain criminal cases that seriously endanger national security under specific circumstances
officials attending the seminars
Participants in the seminars unanimously expressed support for the draft law, and said its enactment will close the legal loopholes and the lack of sufficient enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.
It also will help maintain Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability and ensure the smooth implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, they said, adding that they hope the law will be promulgated and take effect as soon as possible.
While attending the seminars, officials and legislators with the central authorities said that the legislation will strictly follow the “one country, two systems” principle and will take into account the needs and requirements for safeguarding national security, the differences between the mainland’s and SAR’s legal systems, as well as Hong Kong’s actual situation.
The legislation will not only be in line with the Constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law and other national laws that protect national security, but will also be compatible and complement Hong Kong’s existing legal system, the officials said.
To ensure that this law could be effectively implemented in the HKSAR, it is imperative for the central government to retain jurisdiction over certain criminal cases that seriously endanger national security under specific circumstances, they said.
The legislation will target only a very few people that threaten national security and will protect the majority of Hong Kong residents, they added.
The new law will ensure that the capitalist system in Hong Kong remain unchanged; the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people are not impaired; Hong Kong’s judicial independence is guaranteed; and foreigners’ legal rights in Hong Kong are untouched to maintain the confidence of foreign investors.
Officials and legislators with the central authorities said the national security law will focus on solving the prominent problems of the HKSAR in safeguarding national security in order to effectively prevent, prohibit and punish in a legal way all activities of secession, subversion of State power, terrorism, and collusion with external forces.
For the vast majority of Hong Kong residents, this legislation will serve as a guardian for them so that they may fully enjoy the advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle, and live and work in a safer, more stable and harmonious social environment, they said.
