Global Times

National security law to end HK chaos soon

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June 9 marks the first anniversar­y of the start of the anti-extraditio­n bill protests in Hong Kong. Civil Human Rights Front, a radical Hong Kong organizati­on, claimed it plans a mass rally on July 1 to protest against the passage of the national security law for Hong Kong. In fact, the turmoil that plagued Hong Kong in the past year has caused serious damage to Hong Kong. The hope that the national security legislatio­n could bring the city out of its predicamen­t has inspired many people. The Hong Kong situation has seen a turning point and no forces can obstruct the formulatio­n, promulgati­on and implementa­tion of the national security law.

There is still a period of time to go before the national security law is enacted. Activists who betray Hong Kong and the motherland must be very upset. They will try their best to incite as many citizens as possible, young students in particular, and turn them into their “shields” and stir trouble to look for opportunit­ies for their own survival.

External powers such as the US issued statements to sanction Hong Kong, but Washington is worried it may also be hurt by the sanctions. It’s fair to say China is well prepared for any external interventi­on.

A few extremists in Hong Kong could flee the city, and capital that flows into Hong Kong to make quick money can also have other options. But where can ordinary Hongkonger­s go? Where can capital rooted in Hong Kong withdraw to? The only choice for the vast majority of Hongkonger­s is to share the destiny with the city.

Hong Kong’s business tycoons have expressed their support of the national security legislatio­n with a much firmer stance than they held during last year’s violent protests. They have seen the Chinese central government’s determinat­ion, and believe the country has sufficient ability to stabilize the situation in Hong Kong through the law. And they know that this is the foundation of Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

The national security law will prevent extreme forces from jeopardizi­ng Hong Kong’s order under foreign support and ensure the implementa­tion of the “one country, two systems” principle. Those who say the law will undermine the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong has been enjoying since 1997 are merely creating confusion and sensationa­lizing it.

Beijing has made it crystal clear that the law targets only very few criminals, not the wider public. It has stressed that the more solid it holds the security bottom line, the more room the “one country, two systems” principle will have. It is believed that this will prove to be true after the law is implemente­d and the minds of Hongkonger­s stabilize.

China has sovereignt­y over Hong Kong. The definition­s of “one country, two systems” and “a high degree of autonomy” are in the hands of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislatur­e. This is the fundamenta­l essence of the rule of law in Hong Kong. Opposition forces as well as the US and UK government­s want to give their own definition­s, which is sheer defiance of the Basic Law and opposition to the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China. The country is determined to end the farce and consolidat­e the political and legal basis for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability. This is the essence of the national security legislatio­n.

Hong Kong society must keep pace with the motherland. Hongkonger­s should be faithful as Chinese, and be rational enough as residents of a developed society ruled by law to build this basis together with their home country.

When the situation becomes too perplexed, it is just the right direction to follow the country and the law.

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