This file photo taken on June 29, 2020 shows a billboard promoting the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the Central district in Hong Kong. (WANG SHEN / XINHUA)

Prominent figures from Hong Kong’s political and legal circles said that the speech of Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Friday, has set the direction for Hong Kong to comprehensively and accurately implement the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL). 

Also, they urged the Hong Kong government to amend and improve local laws as soon as possible to make them compatible with the NSL.

Xia’s speech had affirmed the importance of the NSL to the city and will inspire the Hong Kong community to further improve the NSL’s implementation

Xia delivered a speech on Friday at a high-level forum held in Beijing and Hong Kong and spelled out the guiding principles for implementing the NSL. During the conference, Xia said that the security law has an overriding effect on the local laws of the HKSAR. Accordingly, the NSL shall prevail where provisions of Hong Kong’s local laws are inconsistent with it. 

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At a media briefing held during a break in the conference, Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said that Xia’s speech had affirmed the importance of the NSL to the city and will inspire the Hong Kong community to further improve the NSL’s implementation.

Tam also expressed support for the HKSAR government to amend local laws to make them compatible with the NSL, noting that doing so will benefit the overall security protection of the city and better safeguard its prosperity. 

Lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said that she strongly agreed with Xia that the NSL is a good law that maintains Hong Kong's stability, has restored a safe environment to the city, and has brought normal life back to its residents. 

The Hong Kong government and the Legislative Council will carefully study which local laws should be amended as soon as possible, Leung said.

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Albert Chen Hung-yee, a member of HKSAR’s Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said that the HKSAR holds the primary responsibility for safeguarding national security, and its local laws should be amended if they conflict with the NSL.