As US President Donald Trump’s administration is hyping up its sanctions and tariff cards to contain China’s development, it is imperative for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to advance its work on safeguarding national security, and underpin the city’s status as an open international metropolis.
With the central government’s move to implement the National Security Law in Hong Kong for over four years, social stability and prosperity have been safeguarded as the world is embroiled in escalating geopolitical tension and the rise of protectionism. Local business chambers, nongovernmental organizations and international bodies can freely express divergent opinions on the SAR government’s policies. Some Western governments and media, however, relentlessly criticized the implementation of the NSL in the SAR, saying the law would curb local residents’ freedom and hamper the business environment, which was anything but the truth.
Hong Kong needs to stay vigilant on any national security risk after Trump and his administration have taken aim to curtail China’s development. Driven by its political antagonism and interests, the US government has recently imposed sanctions on several high-rank mainland and SAR government officials who carry out their duties to safeguard the city’s national security.
In the past few weeks, the US government has also dramatically escalated its trade war against China by hiking tariffs. The US now views China’s rapid economic development as a threat to its global dominance, and has resorted to malicious tactics to lambast Hong Kong on its freedom. It is evident that the US attempts to undermine Hong Kong’s reputable standing as an international financial center out of its own political agenda rather than genuine concerns for Hong Kong residents’ well-being.
Contrary to the unsubstantiated accusations made by the US about Hong Kong’s national security regime, the city’s social stability has been restored following the implementation of the NSL. The SAR has the constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security.
The Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress in 2015 designated April 15 of each year as National Security Education Day. To mark the 10th National Security Education Day this year, the SAR government has organized various activities to enhance local residents’ awareness of safeguarding national security. A thematic exhibition is staged to show the development of national security education in the city over the years, along with open days held by local disciplinary forces and citywide carnivals. Residents have the obligation to learn and safeguard national security under the NSL. Indeed, Hong Kong people still remember the pain of turbulent and unsettling times with anti-government violence and blatant violations of the rule of law in 2019-20. With the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which was enacted to plug loopholes in the local national security regime in March 2024, Hong Kong has reemerged as a stable and inclusive society.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has embraced diverse views in its social fabric. The foreign business chambers and NGOs in the city can express a wide array of opinions on the SAR government’s policies. In international conferences, financial and business summits held in Hong Kong, participants from international bodies can also convey their views on Hong Kong’s policies, and conduct lobbying. This year, Hong Kong will host 56 major meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), including the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting and aviation conference Airspace Asia-Pacific 2025 in June and December. All these events will attract over 170,000 visitors from around the world and showcase Hong Kong as the world’s meeting place for international groups. Based on the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s figures, the number of overnight MICE visitors to the city soared by over 10 percent to 1.42 million last year.
Furthermore, Hong Kong has continuously wooed global enterprises and businesspeople’s investments since the implementation of the NSL. Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has preserved its capitalist system, free economy and free flow of capital. Tens of thousands of business leaders, entrepreneurs and family offices flocked to Hong Kong to join financial summits, including the Global Investment Summit and the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, last month. As an international financial center, Hong Kong is poised to attract global enterprises and capital on all fronts. Hong Kong’s IPO market marked a strong start by raising over HK$17 billion ($2.19 billion) in the first quarter of this year. The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has wooed over 80 strategic enterprises from the mainland, the US, Singapore and other countries, bringing investment of over HK$50 billion in the past few years to the city. Based on the 2025 Business Sentiment Survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong in January, over 70 percent of some 500 Hong Kong-based American corporates said that their operations have not been affected by the NSL. Many attributed Hong Kong’s competitive edge to its robust international connectivity, low taxation, and its strategic positioning as a gateway to and from the Chinese mainland.
Above all, many Western countries have enacted laws and implemented measures to protect national security. In terms of the number of national security legislation, the US and the UK have at least 21 and 14 laws respectively, whereas Canada has more than nine and Australia has four. For some malicious acts such as treason in some Western countries, the penalty is harsh, with life imprisonment in the UK, Australia and Canada. Each country and region has laws to safeguard national security, and the SAR has acted in line with the global practice for safeguarding national security. On the other hand, Hong Kong has upheld the common law system and judicial independence in handling national security cases. The NSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate categories of offenses that endanger national security. Hong Kong’s national security offenses target an extremely small number of people who pose threats to national security. So far Hong Kong’s police force has only arrested about 310 suspects over the past four years. By virtue of the Basic Law, judges also handle cases without fear or favor, and free from any interference, and all those who face charges are entitled to a fair trial.
The 10th National Security Education Day was a good opportunity for the SAR government to raise local residents’ awareness on national security. These educational efforts play a key role in fending off national security threats and ensuring enduring stability, security and prosperity in the city. With a robust national security regime, Hong Kong has steered forward in its social and economic development. Hong Kong will glitter brightly as a leading financial hub and inclusive cosmopolitan city.
The author is a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and founder and chairman of the One Country Two Systems Youth Forum.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
