Mainland Agents Need To Abide By HK Law: Tam

Beijing loyalist Maria Tam said on Sunday that if Beijing feels the need to allow national security agents to operate in Hong Kong, they will still need to comply with laws in Hong Kong.

Tam, who's a deputy director of the Basic Law Committee, has sought to reassure the public about the National People's Congress' decision to bring national security laws to Hong Kong.

Under the approved resolution by the NPC, the move aims to "prevent, stop and punish" any acts of secession, subversion, terrorism activities and foreign interference in Hong Kong that threaten national security, with mainland agencies free to set up bases in the SAR "when needed".

Tam said the power to enact laws about national security has always been rested with the central government, and emphasised that the move is to protect the Hong Kong people's rights.

"National security is a matter for the central government or the parliament of the country. It's never delegated or ceded to any local government," she said after attending a TV programme on Sunday.

She added that Beijing has already taken Hong Kong's situation into account when imposing the law on the SAR.

She explained that the Hong Kong version of the national security laws will not cover counter-revolutionary crimes and internet security offences, which are stated in mainland laws.

She said if the central government had intended to apply the mainland version in Hong Kong, the scope of the law wouldn't be limited to four types of activities: subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign interference.

When asked if participants of a protest would be considered threatening national security simply because someone at the scene raised a banner that reads "Hong Kong independence", Tam said people should leave if they find the activity's nature has changed, and offer their explanation if questioned by the authorities.