On May 22, the Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India points out that the agenda of the third Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) of China includes the deliberation on a draft decision of the NPC on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to safeguard national security. It is not only necessary to plug the loopholes in Hong Kong's national security laws, effectively safeguard national sovereignty and security, but also to maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and ensure the advancement of "one country, two systems".

National security is the essential precondition for a country’s survival and development, thus it is a first priority for any country. Since the return of Hong Kong 23 years ago, there has been a clear loophole in Hong Kong’s legal system and an absence of a mechanism of enforcement in safeguarding the national security, which has actually left the SAR “unprotected” unusually. Especially since the outbreak of the turbulence over the amendment bill in Hong Kong in 2019, there had occurred increasingly rampant activities of those “Hong Kong independence” elements and radical localists. They openly clamored for “Hong Kong independence” through an escalation of violence and terrorist acts. In the meantime, various external forces has stepped up their undisguised interference in Hong Kong affairs and given open support and cover to the opposition and the lawless and violent elements in Hong Kong. These activities have posed a grave threat to China’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, caused enormous damage to the security of the SAR authorities and public order, mounted a serious challenge to the principle of “ one country, two systems", and presented a major and real threat to China’s national security.

The Chinese Central Government shoulders the primary responsibility for upholding national security, and cannot just sit by and do nothing to ignore behaviours that seriously endanger national security. Hong Kong SAR is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China. Since the Hong Kong SAR is facing a serious challenge in safeguarding national security and unable to complete the relevant legislation on its own, it is imperative and urgent for the NPC, the highest organ of state power, to exercise its functions and powers enshrined in the Constitution, establish and improve at the state level the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the SAR.

Upholding national security is a core gist and requirement of "one country, two systems". Without "one country", "two systems" would lose its very foundation. The most important requirement of "one country" is to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Without a guarantee for national security, Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability will no longer exist. The legislation of the Hong Kong SAR on safeguarding national security only targets acts of secession, subversion and terrorism, as well as activities conducted by foreign or external forces interfering in the SAR affairs. It aims at a very small number of people suspected of crimes endangering national security and protects the majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law will be better exercised in a secure environment. The Central Government of China will unswervingly and comprehensively implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy. With national security effectively ensured, Hong Kong will definately develop much better.

The Chinese government is unswervingly determined to safeguard sovereignty, national security and development interests, to implement the "one country, two systems" policy and to oppose the interference in the Hong Kong SAR affairs by any foreign or external forces. It serves the interests of all parties in the international community to safeguard Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and ensure the advancement of "one country, two systems". We hope that the international community will abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, including non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, fully and accurately understand and support the "one country, two systems" with actions, observe NPC’s decision objectively and fairly, respect and support China's efforts to safeguard national security in the SAR in accordance with the law, and do not interfere in the Hong Kong SAR affairs and China’s internal affairs in any form.

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