Promoting a stable business environment in Hong Kong

In just two decades of the 21st century, the United States has enacted several laws on national security, for example, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Protect America Act of 2007.

Yet when the Legislative Council of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance last week, which represents the effective implementation by the HKSAR of an instrument to fulfill its constitutional duty as stipulated under Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “deep concern” and said the law would have “broad implications for the people in Hong Kong as well as US citizens and companies operating there and threatens to further undermine the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong”.

While the US weaves an almost airtight web of national security, it points a finger at the HKSAR legislature for enacting its first law on national security in the past 27 years. Why such a double standard?

Contrary to what Blinken said, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets a very small number of criminals who endanger national security, while protecting the human rights and freedoms of the vast majority of people. The ordinance clearly defines what constitutes an offense, distinguishes between crimes and noncrimes, and stipulates principles such as presumption of innocence that are in accordance with the rule of law.

Also, contrary to his claim about foreign companies operating in Hong Kong, the ordinance is expected to curb the destructive attempts of certain external forces to interfere in Hong Kong’s internal affairs through infiltration and sabotage, thus creating a safe and stable operating environment for businesses.

The day after the legislation was enacted on Saturday, several companies from the US signed contracts with the HKSAR government to establish offices and settle there. Most of these companies are engaged in the innovation and technology industry, with overseas companies aiming to establish a foothold in Hong Kong to expand into the Asian market.