III. The HKSAR's Achievements in Fulfilling Its Constitutional Responsibility for Safeguarding National Security

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China. As a local administrative region directly under the central people's government, the HKSAR shall fulfill its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security. Since the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the chief executive and the HKSAR government have taken on their responsibilities and striven to deliver solid results in ensuring the law's application. Hong Kong's executive, legislative, and judicial branches have performed their respective functions to actively prevent, halt, and punish all acts and activities that endanger national security, thereby further strengthening the national security shield.

1. Completing Legislation Under Article 23 of the Basic Law

Completing legislation as required by Article 23 of the Basic Law had been a long-held hope of the Chinese people, including their compatriots in Hong Kong. Across Hong Kong, this legislation was widely seen as long overdue, and calls for its enactment were widespread. The enactment and application of the Hong Kong National Security Law and full implementation of the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong created the right conditions for this to be achieved.

In January 2024, the HKSAR government initiated the legislative process, and the Legislative Council then deliberated on the draft ordinance, clause by clause, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law. On March 19, 2024, it unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which was gazetted on March 23 and took effect on the same day. This marked that the HKSAR had finally fulfilled its long-overdue constitutional responsibility.

With the SNSO's promulgation, which has closed loopholes and strengthened weak areas in Hong Kong's local system and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, the HKSAR has comprehensively fulfilled its constitutional duties and obligations stipulated in the Basic Law, the May 28 Decision, and the Hong Kong National Security Law.

The SNSO aligns with the Hong Kong National Security Law, stipulating that the highest principle of the One Country, Two Systems policy is to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, thereby fully reflecting the primacy of the one country principle. It prohibits acts and activities endangering national security specified in Article 23 of the Basic Law and improves relevant systems and mechanisms in accordance with Hong Kong's practical needs for safeguarding national security, enabling the HKSAR to comprehensively prevent, halt, and punish such acts and activities in an effective manner.

The SNSO clearly establishes that it is founded on the key principle of respecting and protecting human rights. The freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession, and of demonstration, enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law, 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, are protected accordingly.

Drafted in accordance with common law legislative procedures and practices, the SNSO fully incorporates existing local legal provisions and draws upon the latest achievements and experiences from comparative legislation in other countries, particularly common law countries. This approach ensures that the Ordinance aligns with internationally recognized practices and standards.

As a law for both safeguarding security and promoting development, the SNSO explicitly provides for the protection of property and investments within the HKSAR. It serves to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and fosters a more stable and predictable business and development environment for the region.

2. Continuously Improving Hong Kong's Legal System for Safeguarding National Security

In accordance with the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the HKSAR has enacted, revised, and refined relevant local laws based on actual needs, providing a more concrete and complete institutional guarantee for safeguarding national security.

For example, in 2020, under Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Chief Executive and the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR introduced the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which set out in detail the procedures, applicable circumstances and conditions for approval for all measures. This provides a legal basis for the HKSAR authorities responsible for safeguarding national security to effectively enforce the Hong Kong National Security Law.

In 2023, in accordance with the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR amended the Legal Practitioners Ordinance. While maintaining the existing case-by-case mechanism for admitting overseas lawyers to represent parties in cases, the amendments clarified the conditions and procedures for the admission of overseas lawyers without local practicing qualifications in cases concerning national security. This has effectively forestalled national security risks associated with such legal representation in these cases. District councils were once turned into platforms for inciting "Hong Kong independence", violence, and mutual destruction. To address this problem, in the same year, the Legislative Council also enacted the District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, which has restored district councils to their prescribed role under the Basic Law as regional bodies without political power, reinforcing their consultative and service functions and explicitly barring district council members from engaging in acts that endanger national security. These measures have further reinforced the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong.

In 2025, the HKSAR government adopted two pieces of subsidiary legislation under the SNSO: the Safeguarding National Security (Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Regulation and the Safeguarding National Security (Declaration of Prohibited Places) Order, thereby laying a solid foundation for the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR to lawfully and effectively perform its functions and duties.

3. Taking Strong Law Enforcement and Judicial Actions to Safeguard National Security

The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has effectively fulfilled its primary responsibility for maintaining national security. Under its coordination, the HKSAR's law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial bodies perform their duties scrupulously without fear, effectively safeguarding national security and upholding fairness and justice in accordance with the Hong Kong National Security Law, the SNSO, and other relevant legislation. Their achievements include the following:

– Cracking down on crimes endangering national security in accordance with the law. As of January 2026, 98 individuals were prosecuted under the Hong Kong National Security Law, of whom 78 were convicted.

As for the anti-China agitators who have continued to openly violate the Hong Kong National Security Law and the SNSO after fleeing overseas, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has issued most wanted fugitives and specified concrete measures targeting these fugitives. This is a just decision – necessary for upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong, for safeguarding China's sovereignty and security, and for ensuring the region's long-term peace and stability. It is consistent with international law and internationally accepted practice. Drawing reference from the laws and practices of numerous countries where national security laws have extraterritorial effect, the HKSAR's issuing of wanted notices for overseas fugitives who pose dangers to national security has been a fairly rational and restrained act that is tailored to the realities of Hong Kong society.

– Judicial departments adjudicating impartially cases that endanger national security. Since the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law over five years ago, the courts of the HKSAR have adjudicated a series of criminal cases involving acts endangering national security. Anti-China agitators who sought to destabilize Hong Kong have been convicted and put in jail in accordance with the law. On December 15, 2025, the High Court of the HKSAR delivered its verdict in the case of Lai Chee-ying, who had been alleged of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and local laws. The Court found him guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications.

The courts of the HKSAR have accurately applied the Hong Kong National Security Law and relevant local legislation in delivering verdicts that uphold national security. The courts have confirmed that, when individuals exercise their rights and freedom, they shall not refuse to recognize that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the PRC. They have emphasized that freedoms and rights of individuals in a society underpinned by the rule of law are neither infinite nor absolute. Otherwise, if abused, their destructive and disruptive force would be self-evident. They also confirm that the National Security Law seeks compatibility, alignment and complementarity with local laws.

In guaranteeing the fairness of trials and the procedural rights of the accused, the courts have confirmed that designated judges do not compromise the independent exercise of the power of adjudication and that the absence of a jury does not affect the defendant's procedural rights. The judgment states: The courts have noted that the establishment of a list of designated judges is conducive to improving the efficiency and consistency of trials. Judges are duty-bound by the judicial oath to discharge their functions strictly in accordance with the law, and must remain completely free from any interference by, or influence of, the government. Fundamental legal principles, such as burden of proof, standard of proof, presumption of innocence, right of silence, and right to a fair trial, apply in these cases as much as they apply in any criminal case tried in the Court of First Instance with a jury.

– Safeguarding the rights of prisoners. The HKSAR government provides a secure, humane, appropriate, and healthy custodial environment for all prisoners, guaranteeing their access to essential medical services, mental health counseling, and religious services. In accordance with the Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Ordinance and the Prison Rules, the HKSAR government conducts case-by-case reviews to assess whether individuals imprisoned for offenses endangering national security meet the criteria for remission of sentence or early release, and then makes corresponding arrangements. A prisoner was granted early release after being assessed as posing no further risk to national security on the grounds of genuine remorse and good conduct in prison. This case illustrated the application of the criminal justice principle of severity tempered by leniency under Hong Kong's national security legal framework, as well as the commitment to respecting and protecting human rights.

4. Making Solid Progress in Advancing Public Education and Awareness on National Security

Like air and sunshine, national security is often taken for granted, yet cannot be lived without. Safeguarding national security is a responsibility shared by all members of society; everyone is a stakeholder and beneficiary, and no one can be a mere spectator. Acting on this belief, the HKSAR government has continued to strengthen public education to enhance residents' awareness of national security. This has been achieved through the following:

– Promoting public national security education initiatives. For consecutive years, the HKSAR has celebrated the National Security Education Day on April 15, promoting awareness on national security through opening ceremonies, themed lectures, and open day events at the Chinese PLA Hong Kong Garrison, and many other forms. It has also held the National Security Law Legal Forum on multiple occasions and organized the Fifth Anniversary Forum of Promulgation & Implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law. In August 2024, Hong Kong established its first permanent National Security Exhibition Gallery, which provides a systematic introduction to the holistic approach to national security. The gallery has hosted a wide range of relevant thematic exhibitions, attracting more than 1.5 million Hong Kong residents.

– Strengthening national security education with a focus on young people. The HKSAR has rolled out contests for students, including the Territory-wide Inter-school National Security Knowledge Challenge and the National Knowledge Contest. It has facilitated comprehensive and systematic planning and advancing of national security education in schools at all levels, and established and updated the national security curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, integrating national security education into relevant subjects.

– Carrying out national security education in an innovative way. A dedicated website titled "The Truth About Hong Kong 'Legislative Amendment Turmoil'" has been launched to preserve fact-based records and help the public remain informed and vigilant. The TV series such as National Security Law Chronicles advances public national security awareness through real-life cases, while the animated series Andy and Security Bear uses engaging storytelling to introduce key concepts to younger audiences. Local national security education tutors and youth ambassadors have been trained to extend this national security education to the wider public. All 18 districts in Hong Kong now organize annual national security activities, including carnivals and other events designed to bring this education to neighborhoods and local communities. Today, all Hong Kong residents share one aspiration: stability and peace, not riot and turbulence; vitality and prosperity, not decline and decay; unity and solidarity, not opposition and division; civility and rule of law, not lawlessness and disorder.

With the firm support of the central government, the HKSAR has been resolutely fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. It has enacted a series of local laws and formed a comprehensive legal framework for this endeavor in which the Hong Kong National Security Law and local legislation are closely aligned and function as an integrated whole. Hong Kong's institutions for safeguarding national security have been improving, with their mechanisms operating more smoothly and their capabilities growing ever stronger. The understanding that security brings prosperity is increasingly becoming a mainstream consensus in society, creating a powerful synergy for safeguarding national security across the society.