I've Longed For Security Legislation: Erick Tsang

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang, has told state television that he has "longed for" national security legislation in Hong Kong, adding that the enactment of the law shows that the country only has the best intentions for the SAR.

Speaking in a CCTV interview aired on Saturday, Tsang said the unrest in Hong Kong over the past year severely damaged social stability and threatened national security.

He said the first thing that came to his mind upon hearing of Beijing’s decision to implement national security legislation in the SAR was: “I’ve longed for it for so long”.

The constitutional affairs chief added that he believes the new law will have a strong deterrent effect, and make society more stable and people's lives more fulfilling.

He said it is a blessing to be Chinese at this point in time, saying the country and its people had endured numerous hardships and were humiliated over the past century.

“As Chinese, we should all work hard for the country and for the Chinese race so that we will go down in history as being the generation of people who had contributed to the country’s remarkable accomplishments”, he said.

Meanwhile speaking in the same series of interviews, civil service chief Patrick Nip said Beijing’s decision to impose national security law in Hong Kong shows the country’s “love and care” for the SAR, as the legislation will ensure long-term stability and strengthen One Country, Two Systems.