Top legislature pledges its full support for Article 23 legislation
The nation’s top legislature pledged to render its full support for the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which is not only a constitutional duty of the region, but also has a direct bearing on the well-being of the city and its residents, a spokesperson for the legislature said on Monday.
Speaking to the media a day before the opening of the annual session of the legislature in Beijing, Lou Qinjian, the spokesperson for the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress, said this legislative endeavor aligns with the decisions of the NPC regarding the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, as well as the obligations spelled out in the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law requires the HKSAR to enact laws to prohibit seven categories of acts that endanger national security, including treason, sedition, subversion and theft of State secrets. Two of the crimes — secession and subversion — are already covered by the NSL.
Lou said the Article 23 legislation, combined with the NSL and other existing laws, form a comprehensive and robust legal framework to ensure the protection of national security and is to the benefit of upholding national sovereignty, security, and developmental interests, as well as maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
The forthcoming legislation is essential for protecting the fundamental well-being of all Hong Kong residents and safeguarding the interests of investors from around the world, Lou said.
It will also ensure the successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”, he added.
He said the NPC will continue to closely monitor and render full support to the HKSAR in its legislative endeavors.
On the same day, the Ministry of State Security called the legislation of Article 23 a “compulsory question” that needs to be answered for Hong Kong to advance from order to prosperity, therefore the city should complete the task decisively.
The ministry said it believes that the legislation will help resolve longstanding issues affecting Hong Kong, and facilitate the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
The ministry reiterated that the HKSAR has the responsibility to safeguard national security, and the promulgation and implementation of the NSL has brought stability to the city.
However, the ministry warned of the persistent anti-China elements seeking to disrupt order, urging the city to complete the legislation and adhere to the holistic view of national security to eliminate the sources of chaos, uphold the rule of law and justice, and restore a positive community atmosphere.