John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Tuesday that the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR aims to ensure the safety and stability of Hong Kong's business and investment environment, and continue to make Hong Kong an attractive and competitive international city.

During the past week, many organizations from different sectors have voiced their support for the early legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, saying that a rigorous and reasonable legal basis is the very foundation to stabilize Hong Kong's social and business environment and protect the rights and interests of enterprises, Lee said during a press briefing.

He reiterated the legislative principles, including (a) Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the top priority of the principle of "one country, two systems";(b) Human rights are to be respected and protected. The rights and freedoms, including the freedom of speech, of the press, of publication, the freedoms of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, enjoyed under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR, should be protected in accordance with the law; and (c) For acts and activities endangering national security, the principle of the rule of law should be adhered to in the active prevention and punishment in accordance with the law.

Lee held a briefing in the afternoon to explain the contents of the consultation document to representatives of foreign consular corps, foreign chambers of commerce and the local business community in Hong Kong.