On Feb 10, China’s State Council Information Office released the white paper “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”. The white paper reviews Hong Kong’s endeavors in safeguarding national security and the experience and insights gained in the process. Its release is particularly timely and of extraordinary significance, coming at a moment when the ringleader of the anti-China agitators in Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, was just sentenced to 20 years in prison — in line with the popular will, and as Hong Kong continuously achieves positive results in its efforts to safeguard national security. The timing also coincides with the new stage in the practice of “one country, two systems” and the crucial initiation period of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which will bring new opportunities and missions for Hong Kong.
By reviewing the protracted struggle, the white paper reminds us that safeguarding national security is always vital to Hong Kong.
The white paper meticulously details the extraordinary journey of safeguarding national security in Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” framework, reviewing the intense and complex struggle that has never ceased since 1840. Especially since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the central government, together with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and patriotic forces in Hong Kong, have engaged in a protracted struggle for the local legislation on national security under Article 23 of the Basic Law against anti-China agitators in Hong Kong and hostile external forces. Anti-China agitators imperiled China’s security and posed the greatest challenge for the practice of “one country, two systems” through various incidents, such as the large-scale protests against Article 23 legislation in 2003, the anti-national education machination in 2012, the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014, the Mong Kok riots in 2016, the establishment of the so-called “Hong Kong National Party”, and the “black-clad riots” in 2019-20 — the Hong Kong version of a “color revolution”. During the 2019 riots, the anti-China agitators engaged in a range of subversive actions, including advocating “Hong Kong independence” in an attempt to split the country, challenging the authority of the central government leadership, subverting State power, carrying out violent and terrorist activities, disrupting social order, trampling on human rights and freedoms, undermining Hong Kong’s democracy, colluding with hostile external forces, and soliciting foreign interference. These actions severely undermined Hong Kong’s constitutional order and the rule of law, seriously undermined China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and inflicted indelible pain on Hong Kong people.
We believe that under the guidance of the white paper, Hong Kong will firmly shoulder its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security, continuously strengthening its national security shield, to ensure steady and sustained progress in the “one country, two systems” principle with a high standard of security, and play a bigger role in the great cause of national rejuvenation.
The white paper warns that anti-China agitators in Hong Kong and hostile external forces have never abandoned their plot to disrupt the SAR and contain China. This is the main source threating Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. The clamor by hostile external forces and overseas anti-China agitators following the sentencing in Lai’s case once again confirms what the white paper states: The fight around national security in Hong Kong has never ceased, and the situation remains complex and severe. Those painful lessons from the 2019 turmoil in Hong Kong constantly remind us that once a crack appears in the dam of national security, adversaries will exploit it relentlessly to cause damage. If acts endangering national security are tolerated or dealt with leniently, it will only lead to disastrous consequences.
The white paper clarifies the stance, clearing up confusion and misunderstandings.
It elaborates in detail on the principled stance of the central government regarding safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, once again clearly demonstrating the central government’s resolute defense of national sovereignty, security, and development interests. It reaffirms the central government’s firm support for the HKSAR to comprehensively and accurately implement the “one country, two systems” principle, and fulfill its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security, effectively preventing, halting, and punishing acts and activities that undermine national security. The central government has once again made its position clear: It will provide strong support at a time when the struggle surrounding major national security cases remains intense, in bolstering the SAR’s relevant law enforcement and judicial actions regarding national security to effectively deter hostile external forces and anti-China agitators.
The white paper also explains at length the political ethics and legal logic behind the central government’s fundamental responsibility for national security matters involving Hong Kong, and the SAR’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. The central government has effectively exercised its overall jurisdiction over the SAR in accordance with the nation’s Constitution and the Basic Law, enacted and implemented the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law, implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, and improved the electoral system to ensure good governance in the SAR. With the support of the central government, the SAR has completed local legislation, including the legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, and carried out law enforcement and judicial activities to safeguard national security effectively. These practical measures taken by the central government and the SAR to fulfill their duty of safeguarding national security in accordance with the law are totally reasonable, justified, and beyond reproach. By elaborating from the perspective of safeguarding national security under “one country, two systems”, the white paper helps Hong Kong and the international community correctly understand and view Hong Kong’s practice in this regard, effectively clearing up confusion and misunderstandings surrounding the issue, building a consensus that national security ensures a secure home and strengthening the joint force for safeguarding national security.
The white paper summarizes experience and insights gained in the process, strengthening the holistic approach to achieve both development and security.
The white paper vividly showcases the achievements of Hong Kong in safeguarding national security, showing the bright prospects ahead. It summarizes and refines the practical requirements that must be firmly grasped as “six adherences”, further enhancing people’s understanding of the approach to safeguarding national security in Hong Kong under “one country, two systems”. These six principles are already familiar and deeply ingrained concepts, and have been followed in practice but not yet fully conceptualized. The white paper elevates them as guiding principles for future practice. For example, adhering to the respect for and protection of human rights has been fully reflected in Hong Kong’s laws and practices for safeguarding national security. The white paper further summarizes it as a distinctive feature and important experience of Hong Kong’s efforts, emphasizing it must be upheld in the long term. Another example is maintaining security amid openness. A high degree of openness and internationalization has long been Hong Kong’s unique advantage. The white paper explains the dialectical unity between openness and security, guiding Hong Kong to leverage its advantages for its own development and effectively refuting claims such as “Hong Kong has become just another mainland city.” It can be foreseen that the experiential insights summarized in the white paper will undoubtedly provide strong guidance for Hong Kong to better coordinate development and security, and to continuously consolidate the security foundation, which will also reinforce confidence in the future of “one country, two systems” and Hong Kong’s development prospects.
The release of the white paper, in the year that begins the 15th Five-Year Plan period and as Hong Kong is about to enter the fast lane of development, helps us recognize the severe and complex situation facing national security maintenance, build a consensus on safeguarding national security, and strengthen confidence in the city’s development prospects. We believe that under the guidance of the white paper, Hong Kong will firmly shoulder its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security, continuously strengthening its national security shield, to ensure steady and sustained progress in the “one country, two systems” principle with a high standard of security, and play a bigger role in the great cause of national rejuvenation.
The author is a current-affairs commentator.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
