Hard on the heels of the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for national security crimes, China’s State Council’s white paper — “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” — was especially timely.
It expounded on the central government’s responsibility for national security, the achievements of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in fulfilling its constitutional duty in safeguarding national security, and the city’s transition from disorder to stability and prosperity.
It also highlighted efforts to create high-standard security for the high-quality development of the “one country, two systems” policy.
While Lai’s fate was sealed with an open trial — adjudicated in accordance with the law, where procedural fairness and a high level of professional rigor were observed — some critics, disregarding how Lai’s trial is testament to the rule of law and legal due process, have spared no effort to frame it as politically motivated and insinuate that freedom was compromised.
Such political statements, camouflaged beneath the sugarcoated slogans of “freedom of expression”, seek to stir up trouble in Hong Kong with the ulterior motive of undermining the harmony and effective governance of the SAR and the Chinese mainland. This white paper fires a warning shot at those critics, explaining that safeguarding national security is an unceasing struggle, and as the white paper says, “attention must remain focused on ‘soft confrontation’ under the slogans of ‘democracy’, ‘freedom’ and ‘human rights’”.
In debunking the false binary of national security and freedom orchestrated by some Western critics, one must acknowledge that the two are not mutually exclusive. In any civilized society, freedom is never nihilist by nature and should never be used to challenge law and order with acts endangering national security in which the interests and safety of the majority population are at stake.
National security concerns the interests and well-being of all residents and foreign investors. The white paper rightly points out that “Hong Kong’s endeavors in safeguarding national security are not aimed to pursue ‘absolute’ or ‘generalized’ security”. In our national security regime, comprising the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, there are explicit provisions on the protection of human rights and rights and freedoms enjoyed by all Hong Kong residents in accordance with the Basic Law and international covenants.
Clear demarcations are maintained between crimes and non-crimes, individuals or organizations exercising their rights and freedoms, normal exchanges/interactions, commercial deals, academic exchanges and so forth. All are well protected in accordance with the law and will not be affected. Any smearing of our national security regime with no factual basis will not stand the test of time. After all, as the adage goes, “a lie told a hundred times won’t become a truth”.
In addition to restoring social order and ending years of political strife, our national security regime also ensures better development in Hong Kong where the legitimate rights and interests of investors are well protected and a better living standard can be facilitated for residents. One must realize that security is a prerequisite for development, and development offers a guarantee for security. Taking a lesson from the black-clad riots in 2019-20, security must not be overlooked while pursuing development. It was the absence of a sound national security regime and enforcement mechanism that enabled the citywide chaos and destruction, wreaking havoc on many who call Hong Kong their home. Therefore, safeguarding national security plays a pivotal role in better development in Hong Kong and better lives for its residents.
It is only with a strong security foundation that the HKSAR can advance high standard opening-up to ensure a more liberal business environment, a more dynamic and resilient capital market with a seamless flow of capital, personnel, goods and data, and thereby thrive as one of the world’s largest financial centers
In fact, since the full implementation of the national security laws, our local economy and business environment have seen steady growth. According to statistics cited in the white paper, Hong Kong’s GDP has recorded consecutive years of growth, surpassing HK$3 trillion ($383.4 billion) in 2024 with real GDP expanding by 3.5 percent in 2025. Also, Hong Kong ranks first globally in economic freedom, according to the Fraser Institute, and third in the Global Financial Centres Index. Our city has returned to the top three in overall global competitiveness. Market performance provides further evidence. In 2025, the Hang Seng Index rose by 27.8 percent, while Hong Kong’s IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange tripled year-on-year, reclaiming the top global position. Longer-term investment trends tell a similarly remarkable story. The number of companies with overseas or mainland parent firms maintaining operations in the city has surpassed a historic high of over 11,000. More importantly, a a 2026 report citing the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 2026 Business Sentiment Survey showed that 94 percent of US-funded enterprises surveyed expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s rule of law. This demonstrates solid commercial commitments worldwide that signals immense confidence in Hong Kong as a global business hub.
In the light of complicated geopolitics and escalating regional conflicts, as seen in the Panama Supreme Court’s recent politicized ruling against the legitimate economic interest of a Hong Kong enterprise, greater attention should be given to security in unconventional areas such as finance, shipping, trade and the protection of overseas interests.
Intervention and sabotage by hostile external forces must be guarded against, and the systems and mechanisms for countering foreign sanctions, intervention, and long-arm jurisdiction should be further improved. Certain rules and mechanisms in respect of risk monitoring and early warning systems should be devised and improved to effectively defuse major risks, so as to achieve high-quality economic development and maintain social stability in Hong Kong.
As Hong Kong enters a new chapter of development, the white paper stresses that security is not “an inhibition” but rather “a safeguard and a booster” that enables Hong Kong to fulfill its role as an international financial bridge in the motherland’s modernization process.
In so doing, safeguarding national security in Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” policy must aim at developing “open security”, emphasizing dynamic protection of national security in an open environment.
Safeguarding national security in Hong Kong means safeguarding the security of global industrial, supply and capital chains. International economic and financial security, and the basic order of economic globalization, are similarly important.
It is only with a strong security foundation that the HKSAR can advance high standard opening-up to ensure a more liberal business environment, a more dynamic and resilient capital market with a seamless flow of capital, personnel, goods and data, and thereby thrive as one of the world’s largest financial centers.
The issue of a white paper is not an end to our city’s efforts to safeguard national security — which shall always require our concerted efforts — but a helpful guide on how Hong Kong should approach safeguarding national security while fully leveraging the strengths of the “one country, two systems” framework with a view to better integrating into the motherland’s overall development in realizing its national rejuvenation.
Looking ahead, emblazoned with high-standard national security, it is destined that despite the headwinds and challenges in a turbulent world with political tensions and economic fragmentation, Hong Kong will continue to rise above the odds and thrive with our Lion Rock Spirit as the “Pearl of the Orient”.
The author is chairman of Y Legalites and a practicing solicitor in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
