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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee

Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council

Chairperson:

Guo Weimin, vice minister of the State Council Information Office of China (SCIO)

Date:

July 1, 2020

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Guo Weimin:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference. Yesterday, June 30, Chinese lawmakers voted to adopt the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. A decision was also made to list the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.

Today, we have invited Mr. Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, and Mr. Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, to introduce the law and to take related questions you might have.

First, we will ask Mr. Shen Chunyao to provide an introduction.

Shen Chunyao:

Friends from the media, good morning! Today marks the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. I'd like to take this opportunity to express my congratulations !

On June 30, 2020, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee. The adoption of the law fully represents the will of the people, and reflects the wishes and aspirations of all ethnic groups in China, including our Hong Kong compatriots. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which goes into effect on the date of promulgation. On the same day, the 20th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee also adopted the Decision on the Addition to the List of National Laws in Annex III to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, listing the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law. The decision stipulates that the law shall be applied locally in the HKSAR by way of promulgation by the region. According to the latest information, the HKSAR government completed the procedure for promulgation in the gazette at 11:00 p.m. local time yesterday. The law thus comes into effect in the HKSAR and the rest of the country.

Formulating the law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is a major step, a key procedure and an important legislative initiative to implement the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the third session of the 13th NPC. The promulgation and enforcement of the law will effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for offences endangering national security in relation to the HKSAR, as well as plug institutional loopholes in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The promulgation and enforcement of the law is of profound and far-reaching significance for upholding and improving the institutional system of "one country, two systems" under new circumstances, and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and developmental interests, as well as maintaining lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

On Oct. 31, 2019, the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee adopted the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of China's System and Capacity for Governance. The decision vows to uphold and improve the system of "one country, two systems," establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for special administrative regions in safeguarding national security, as well as supporting them in strengthening law enforcement. The decision stipulates there can be no tolerance shown in regard to any act designed to challenge the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle and advocate secession. Considering Hong Kong's current situation, and in order to implement the spirit of the plenary session, efforts must be made at national-level to promote the development of systems and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. Multiple measures for this purpose are available at national-level. For example, the NPC and its standing committee can make decisions, enact, amend and interpret laws, as well as list national laws in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law. The Central People's Government can also issue directives. Related departments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council undertook earnest study, discussion and evaluation, and, considering various factors, they proposed an approach combining "decision plus legislation" to advance the issue. As you know, on May 28, 2020, the third session of the 13th NPC adopted an important decision, namely, the Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to Safeguard National Security. It is an important institutional arrangement made by China's top legislature in accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, to meet the needs created by new circumstances. The decision provided a constitutional basis for the NPC Standing Committee to formulate related laws.