Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Friday the HKSAR government supports the national legislature's deliberation of a draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.
Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the constitutional requirement of the HKSAR, the duty of the HKSAR government, and also in the interest of all the Hong Kong residents, Lam said in a statement, stressing that HKSAR is an inalienable part of China.
Given the increasingly serious situation in HKSAR, the executive and legislative authorities of the HKSAR have difficulties in completing on their own legislation for safeguarding national security in the foreseeable future, Lam said.
The HKSAR government supports the National People's Congress' deliberation of the draft decision to establish and improve at the national level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, Lam said.
The HKSAR government noted that the draft decision only targets acts of secession, subverting state power and organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as activities interfering with the HKSAR's internal affairs by foreign or external forces, which are exactly the situations which the political and business sectors in Hong Kong and members of the public have been worrying about over the past year, Lam said.
With escalating violence in social unrest since June last year, there have been various incidents involving explosives and firearms, posing the risk of terrorism and seriously jeopardizing public safety, Lam said.
During this period, organizations advocating Hong Kong independence and self-determination incited protesters to desecrate and burn the national flag openly, vandalize the national emblem and storm the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and made plans to mobilize so-called international support to interfere with Hong Kong's affairs, Lam said.
The acts smeared the implementation of one country, two systems in Hong Kong and challenged openly the authority of the central government and the HKSAR government, Lam said.
Some members of the political groups repeatedly threatened to paralyse the HKSAR government, and some begged for foreign governments to interfere with Hong Kong's affairs and even to impose sanctions on Hong Kong, Lam said.
The acts have crossed the baseline of one country, sabotaged the relationship between the central government and the HKSAR government, threatened China's sovereignty and national security, and challenged the central authorities and the Basic Law, Lam said.
The draft decision is aimed at safeguarding national security and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, thereby better protecting the legitimate rights and freedoms of all members of the public in Hong Kong, Lam said.
Lam said she believes the national law to be enacted by the Standing Committee of the NPC will seek to practically and effectively prevent and curb acts and activities that seriously undermine national security, as well as sanction those who undermine national security by advocating Hong Kong independence and resorting to violence.
The draft decision and the enactment of the national law will be able to establish and improve the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, Lam said, stressing that the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents will not be affected, as well as the independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, exercised by the Judiciary in Hong Kong.
After the passage of the draft decision, the HKSAR government will fully cooperate with the Standing Committee of the NPC to complete the legislation as soon as possible to discharge its responsibility of safeguarding national security to ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under one country, two systems, Lam said.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)