Hong Kong embraces 1st national security education day after related law takes effect in 2020

Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 19:19:19|Editor: huaxia

HONG KONG, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong on Thursday embraced its first National Security Education Day after the law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) came into force in mid-2020.

Various activities, including lectures, exhibitions, mosaic walls and doors open days of disciplined services, were held to boost the public awareness of safeguarding national security in the global financial hub.

The events, under the theme "Uphold National Security, Safeguard Our Home -- Improve Electoral System, Ensure Patriots Administering Hong Kong," were organized by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, which was established by the HKSAR government in July 2020.

At a ceremony on Thursday, Carrie Lam, HKSAR chief executive and chair of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, said Hong Kong residents, like all compatriots in the country, also share the obligation to safeguard national sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity.

When Hong Kong was faced with unprecedented crises, the central authorities made resolute responses and passed the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, which effectively restored stability in Hong Kong and helped the Hong Kong society get out of the shadow of violence, Lam said.

To ensure national security, Hong Kong's administration must be firmly held in the hands of patriots, according to Lam, who added that the HKSAR government has introduced the bill on improving the local electoral system to the legislature.

The moves by the central authorities of national security legislation and improvement to electoral system have worked to stabilize the overall situation in Hong Kong and laid an important and solid foundation for implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, Lam said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and national security adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, said the central authorities will remain committed to the responsibility of safeguarding national security and will, as always, lend full support to the HKSAR for its lawful crackdown on criminal activities endangering national security.

Any act endangering national security as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will be dealt with swiftly and effectively and any attempt by foreign countries and external forces to flagrantly interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong, and to exploit Hong Kong as a pawn will be met with impactful countermeasures, Luo said.

Luo urged the HKSAR to earnestly discharge its constitutional obligation for safeguarding national security and all Hong Kong compatriots to fulfill their legal obligations of safeguarding national security.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR provides the legal guarantee for Hong Kong to safeguard national security, and that complying with the law is a basic standard of patriots.

Improving the electoral system is a fundamental solution for safeguarding Hong Kong's political stability and security and will serve to terminate the chaotic situations that challenge Hong Kong's constitutional order and build an environment based on the rule of law for protecting national security, Zheng said.

Yang Yirui, acting commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, said Hong Kong is a crucial link for safeguarding national security.

The enactment of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR and improvement to the electoral system will effectively prevent external forces from meddling in Hong Kong affairs by colluding with local anti-China disruptors, and protect Hong Kong's political stability and security, Yang said.

Chen Daoxiang, Commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the HKSAR, said the garrison firmly supports the policies of the central authorities and is determined and confident in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, also attended the ceremony.

Thursday marks China's sixth National Security Education Day. April 15 of each year is designated as the day for raising the public awareness of national security after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed a new national security law in 2015. Enditem

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