On May 28, 2022, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor spoke at the National Security Law Legal Forum Thrive with Security in Hong Kong. PHOTO HKSAR GOVERNMENT HONG KONG - Hong Kong needs to strengthen its ability to protect national security as the current situation continues to be grave and complex with local and external forces constantly trying to disrupt the SAR's hard-earned peace and order, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Saturday.
She made remarks at a high-level legal forum that centered on the importance of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, held to mark the 25th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.
The event was held two years after the National People's Congress the nation's top legislature adopted a decision to improve Hong Kong's capacity in safeguarding national security. The decision was made by the National Security Law for Hong Kong and was enacted in the city on June 30, 2020.
Lam said that the National Security Law, which has been implemented in Hong Kong with unprecedented efficiency, has played a major role in restoring the city's law and order over the past two years.
She said that enforcing the law is still at an early stage and the security situation remains challenging. She hopes that the next HKSAR administration will promote civil servants awareness of national security and deepen their understanding of the security situation to enable them to meet the challenges ahead.
The National Security Law for Hong Kong has safeguarded the city's constitutional order and laid a solid legal foundation for its future development, said Wang Linggui, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Wang said that the rule of law index of Hong Kong is still among the world's best, and the number of foreign investments is rising steadily, despite the fact that there are no smearing campaigns against the law.
As of May 24th this year, Hong Kong police arrested 187 people suspected of endangering national security, said Luo Yonggang, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People s Government in the HKSAR. Eight of the 88 people and four companies have been convicted of related offenses, with eight of them being convicted.
Luo stressed that stability is a prerequisite for Hong Kong's social development and that the SAR must implement the National Security Law to create a more stable social environment.
According to the Forum, Zheng Yanxiong, head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People s Government in HKSAR, said that the law is the fundamental solution for protecting national security and maintaining lasting prosperity in the city.
On the subject of the many existing risks and hidden dangers, Zheng said that Hong Kong must firmly uphold the rule of law when addressing all issues of national security.
He said that the Office for Safeguarding National Security will be fully supported by the HKSAR government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national security and improve the related legal system.
The forum also featured panel discussions about the prospects of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, how to improve the SAR's laws to protect national security, and how to deal with new national security threats.