The secretary for security and heads of six disciplined services departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday welcomed and supported the passage of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.
The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was passed earlier Tuesday at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.
Secretary for Security John Lee, together with the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, the Director of Fire Services, the Director of Immigration and the Controller of the Government Flying Service, pledged in a statement full support for the effective implementation of the law in Hong Kong.
Lee said he would lead the disciplinary forces to fully discharge their due responsibilities to implement the national security law, striving to safeguard national security, ensuring the continued success of "one country, two systems," restoring social peace and preserving Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.
The Security Bureau is establishing an enforcement mechanism for effectively safeguarding national security, Lee said.
The dedicated unit being set up in the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will be equipped with effective enforcement power to discharge the enforcement duties under the law, and the other five disciplinary forces will also fully assist in their respective professional areas in collaboration with the HKPF in carrying out work in safeguarding national security, he said.
The law's enactment will help Hong Kong restore stability and put the economy back on track, allowing Hong Kong to ride out the difficult times and safeguarding its long-term prosperity and stability, he added.
The HKPF also showed support to the passage of the national security law in the HKSAR.
The law clearly stipulates the specific composition and corresponding criminal liability for four types of crimes, and the HKPF will fully perform its duties and strictly enforce the law to restore social order and ensure the effective implementation of the law in the HKSAR to safeguard national security, it said in a statement.
In response to the various criminal acts that endanger national security, the HKPF will conduct arrests and take other law enforcement actions in accordance with the law and the laws of Hong Kong to protect the life and property of Hong Kong residents and the basic rights and freedoms they enjoy under the law, it said.
"The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, and the Hong Kong Police Force is fully responsible for safeguarding the security of Hong Kong as well as our country," it said.
Four Hong Kong police associations including Hong Kong Police Inspectors' Association also issued a joint statement to voice their support for the law.
The statement highlighted the necessity of the new law as intensified violent incidents and emerging homegrown terrorism have plunged Hong Kong into chaos and turned Hong Kong into a loophole of in safeguarding national security.
The associations pledged fair and professional law enforcement according to the new law to safeguard the interests of Hong Kong, national security, and the development of the country.
