The spokesperson of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress announced the agenda of the session on the evening of the 21st, which includes the review of the "Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanism for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Maintain National Security (Draft)".
Hong Kong media analyzed that this "Hong Kong version of the National Security Law" mainly targets four categories of behavior, including subversion of state power, secession, terrorist activities, and intervention by external forces.
Legislation to close national security loopholes
People from all walks of life in Hong Kong have also expressed their firm approval and support. This is related to the future of Hong Kong and national security, and is the key to the stability and long-term implementation of "one country, two systems".
Hong Kong’s Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong responded on the evening of the 21st to support China’s National People’s Congress in reviewing a bill to establish and improve Hong Kong’s legal system for safeguarding national security.
The DAB pointed out that 23 years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, it has still not fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities and failed to legislate on Article 23 of the Basic Law, leaving gaps in national security. In recent years, "Hong Kong independence" has become increasingly fierce, undermining Hong Kong's social security. Illegal and violent activities that violate the rule of law are also extremely rampant. Some politicians have even blatantly sought foreign forces to interfere in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, seriously endangering national security and development interests. In this case, it is necessary for the National People's Congress to take the above approach, and it is in line with the fundamental interests of the country and Hong Kong society.
Li Huiqiong, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and chairman of the Main Committee of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, said that the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong fully supports it. The National People's Congress's adoption of the above-mentioned measures is necessary and in line with the fundamental interests of the country and Hong Kong society.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) issued a statement on the evening of the 21st to express strong support. The statement said: We will "duly support" the promotion of this legislation to safeguard national security. We believe that legislation is extremely urgent and necessary to plug the loopholes in the existing special zones on national security issues. We believe that the legislation can demonstrate the firm will of the people of the country and the central government to safeguard national security, and also reflects the country's love for Hong Kong!
Some analysts believe that this legislation plugs legal loopholes in maintaining Hong Kong's national security from the national level, and its effect is different from the "Article 23" local legislation.
For example, national law currently only prohibits "Taiwan independence" and does not prohibit "Hong Kong independence" (when the "Anti-Secession Law" was passed, it was stated that it does not apply to Hong Kong and Macao) ; for another example, if the "three bottom lines" are touched in Hong Kong (endangering national sovereignty) There are currently no provisions on how to punish acts that violate national security, challenge the central power and the authority of the Basic Law, and use Hong Kong to infiltrate and sabotage the mainland).
Another example is that the Hong Kong Basic Law gives the central government the constitutional powers and responsibilities in Hong Kong’s 23 legislations. There is also an urgent need for an implementation mechanism for national legal provisions.
Crack down on opposition collusion with foreign forces
Hong Kong’s opposition lawmakers and politicians have frequently visited the United States in recent years, seeking to use the United States to check and balance the government. Before the district council election last November, some opposition figures handed over the entire list of Hong Kong's returning officers to the United States in an attempt to use the power of the United States to intimidate the returning officers so that they would not be able to enforce the law impartially and would not dare to cancel their advocacy of "Hong Kong independence." candidacy of self-determinationists.
Fu Zhenzhong, chairman of the "Defend Hong Kong Movement", said that he absolutely supports the National People's Congress's Hong Kong-related motions, which can fill the current legal vacuum in Hong Kong regarding secession of the country or collusion with foreign forces. allows law enforcement and courts to have a solid legal basis to prosecute and punish. Hong Kong chaos elements who specialize in exploiting legal loopholes will not be allowed to go unpunished.
"I hate that some opposition members often go to foreign countries to badmouth Hong Kong and ask the United States to sanction Hong Kong and China. They should be punished by the Hong Kong version of the national security law!" Fu Zhenzhong said.
Wu Qiubei, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions and Hong Kong representative to the National People's Congress, said that the continued violence last year seriously threatened the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong opposition colludes with external forces and is obviously engaged in a "color revolution." Therefore, it is only natural that the National People's Congress has the confidence, responsibility, and authority to handle national security issues through central legislation and quell chaos.
It will not hinder Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center
After the agenda of the conference was announced, the opposition was in panic all day long. They started writing notes late at night to respond, which was jokingly called by netizens "taking turns to speak their last words."
The opposition shouted at foreign forces at the press conference, and once again put forward the argument that "national security legislation affects the confidence of foreign investors."
Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that with such a law, will not prevent foreign investors from investing locally, and will not hinder the freedom that local residents enjoy in accordance with the law. This is what Hong Kong should do. We now have a national security loophole in , which will affect the implementation of "one country, two systems" and the stability of Hong Kong society, thus affecting investment interest and Hong Kong's economic development.
Leung Chun-ying believes that almost every country and every society in the world, including the United States itself, and some countries in Asia, such as Singapore, have laws in this area (to safeguard national security), and their laws are quite strict and strict. To implement "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong, we must have laws to safeguard national security. does not have this law, but it will affect the interests of all parties.
Comprehensive reports from "Beijing Daily", "Wenhui Po" and "Ta Kung Pao"
