New Law To Come Into Effect This Evening: Carrie Lam

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says Hong Kong's new national security law will come into effect on Tuesday evening, with the SAR government moving to gazette it "as soon as possible".

The National People's Congress Standing Committee has already adopted the law as well as a decision to add it into Annex III of the Basic Law, while President Xi Jinping has signed a presidential order to promulgate the legislation.

"The National Security Law will come into effect later today. The HKSAR government will complete the necessary procedure for publication by gazette as soon as possible to enable the implementation of the national Security Law in Hong Kong in tandem," a statement said.

It said in accordance with the requirement of the law, the SAR government will establish a "Committee for Safeguarding National Security", to be chaired by the Chief Executive, as soon as possible.

"Dedicated units in the Hong Kong Police Force and the Department of Justice will be responsible for implementing the relevant legal provisions in the National Security Law," the statement said.

"I express my heartfelt thanks to the NPCSC for gauging the views of the HKSAR government and various sectors of the community in Hong Kong as well as taking on board Hong Kong's practical situation during the law drafting process," Lam said.

"I am also encouraged by the overwhelming support of the members of the public. I am confident that after the implementation of the National Security Law, the social unrest which has troubled Hong Kong people for nearly a year will be eased and stability will be restored, thereby enabling Hong Kong to start anew, focus on economic development and improve people's livelihood."