A newly released white paper on Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security holds great and far-reaching significance for safeguarding the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" principle, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Tuesday.

The document provides a thorough review of the special administrative region’s national security practices, reaffirms the central government’s staunch backing for the city’s safeguarding role, and consolidates essential insights of experience for upholding national security under “one country, two systems”, a spokesman for the office said in a statement.

The white paper also highlights the enactment and implementation of the HKSAR National Security Law as a significant milestone in the practice of "one country, two systems", it added.

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The social unrest in 2019, which escalated into a Hong Kong version of a “color revolution”, posed a serious threat to national security, the statement said, adding that the central government took decisive measures to address the threat and restore stability when the HKSAR government could no longer effectively manage the situation.

“With the implementation of the NSL, anti-China and disruptive forces in Hong Kong, as well as foreign hostile forces, have been dealt a heavy blow. Hong Kong's electoral and district governance systems, including district councils, have been systematically restructured, and the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’ has been fully implemented,” the spokesperson said.

The NSL has brought stability to Hong Kong, marking a watershed moment in the transition from chaos to order and ushering in a new chapter in the practice of “one country, two systems,” said the spokesperson.

The white paper, the spokesperson said, also clarifies how the HKSAR has effectively fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security.

“Since the implementation of the NSL, the chief executive and the HKSAR government have demonstrated both courage and capability in performing their duties. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches have each carried out their respective responsibilities, actively preventing, stopping, and punishing acts and activities that endanger national security.”

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Furthermore, the white paper highlights Hong Kong's historic achievements and transformative changes in its national security efforts, the spokesman pointed out.

Through the joint efforts of the central government and the HKSAR, national sovereignty, security, and development interests have been robustly safeguarded, while Hong Kong's prosperity and stability have been effectively promoted, the spokesperson said, adding that the white paper outlines the practical requirements for safeguarding national security under the “one country, two systems” framework.

Guided by the overall national security strategy, the spokesperson said that high-standard security must be firmly established to ensure the effective and enduring implementation of the principle.

Emphasizing that safeguarding national security in Hong Kong serves to uphold the “one country, two systems” principle, protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and maintain the city’s long-term prosperity and stability, the spokesperson said these efforts ultimately benefit the country, Hong Kong, and its residents.