China adopts law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong
SocietyUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Chinese lawmakers Tuesday voted to
adopt the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National
Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The law was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the
Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top
legislature.
President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to
promulgate the law, which goes into effect on the date of promulgation.
With 66 articles in six chapters, the law clearly defines
the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national
security and four categories of offences -- secession, subversion, terrorist
activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to
endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties.
According to the law, the central government will set up an
office in the HKSAR for safeguarding national security.
The HKSAR will establish a committee for safeguarding
national security, which is under the supervision of and accountable to the
central government. To be chaired by the HKSAR chief executive, the committee
shall have a national security adviser designated by the central government.
The Hong Kong police force will also set up a department for safeguarding
national security, according to the law.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress
(NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 20th session
of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 30, 2020.
(Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
After the law was passed, the NPC Standing Committee
consulted its HKSAR Basic Law Committee and the HKSAR government, and adopted
on Tuesday afternoon, by a unanimous vote, a decision to list the law in Annex
III to the HKSAR Basic Law.
The newly-adopted decision stipulates that the law shall be
applied locally in the HKSAR by way of promulgation by the region.
The law came into force in Hong Kong at 11:00 p.m. local
time on Tuesday upon its promulgation by the HKSAR government in the gazette.
HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said in a statement that
the HKSAR government welcomes the passage of the law.
"I am confident that after the implementation of the
national security law, the social unrest which has troubled Hong Kong people
for nearly a year will be eased and stability will be restored, thereby
enabling Hong Kong to start anew, focus on economic development and improve
people's livelihood," she said.
WIDE SUPPORT
The law came after prolonged social unrest and escalating
street violence had plunged Hong Kong into the gravest situation since its
return to the motherland in 1997. Rampant activities of "Hong Kong
independence" organizations and violent radicals as well as blatant
interference by external forces have disrupted Hong Kong residents' daily life
and threatened their safety.
Addressing the closing meeting of the NPC Standing
Committee session, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the
unanimous passage of the law and the decision has reflected the common will of
the Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.
Stressing that national security, social stability and the order
of rule of law are the premises of the development of Hong Kong, Li said the
legislation represents the aspirations of the people and an irresistible trend
of the times.
In a statement, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of
the State Council voiced firm support for the law, calling it a
"milestone" event that will usher in a turning point for Hong Kong to
end chaos and bring back order.
In a separate statement, the Liaison Office of the Central
People's Government in the HKSAR said the promulgation and implementation of
the law at the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the
motherland is an event worth celebrating for all Chinese people, including Hong
Kong compatriots.
Nearly 2.93 million Hong Kong residents earlier signed a
petition in support of the national security legislation during an eight-day
campaign starting May 24.
"SWORD" AND "GUARDIAN"
The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
said in its statement that for a tiny number of people endangering national
security, the law will be a "sharp sword" hanging over their heads.
But for the vast majority of Hong Kong residents including
foreigners in Hong Kong, the law will be a "guardian" that protects
their rights, freedoms and peaceful life, said the office.
According to the law, people convicted of the national
security crimes could face up to life imprisonment.
Convicted criminals will be disqualified from running for
public office, and people in public office who are found guilty of the crimes
will be removed from their posts.
The law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into
force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment, according to
its provision.
Upon promulgation, the law will resolutely and effectively
safeguard national security and ensure that the "one country, two
systems" cause is steered toward the right direction, said top legislator Li
Zhanshu.
The law will vigorously uphold the constitutional order and
the order of rule of law in the HKSAR, forestall and deter external
interference, and safeguard Hong Kong's fundamental, long-term and current
interests, he said.
Source:
Xinhua