NPC Move Shows Country's Care Towards Hong Kong: CE

The SAR government and pro-establishment politicians have welcomed the approval for national security legislation from the mainland’s top legislature, reiterating that the law would safeguard people’s interests and help the city’s long-term development.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the National People’s Congress (NPC) decision showed “the care of the country towards the HKSAR”.

Lam said there was a need and urgency for the NPC to pass its proposal, given the difficulty authorities were facing in passing a legislation on their own for the foreseeable future.

The NPC earlier on Thursday endorsed a resolution to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, by a vote of 2,878 to one, with six abstentions. The law will be formulated by the NPC Standing Committee, and then added to Annex III of the Basic Law and promulgated in the SAR.

Lam again said the new law would punish only “an extremely small minority of criminals” who threatened national security and would not affect Hong Kong residents’ legitimate rights and freedoms.

“I strongly believe that various sectors of society will lend their full support for the legislation,” she said.

The move to introduce the law through Annex III means the national security legislation will not be scrutinised by the Legislative Council before it is enacted.

The Legco president, Andrew Leung, applauded the passage of the resolution, but acknowledged there were some concerns about the proposed law.

“I hope the executive authority will work hard in explaining the relevant issues to address the concern of Hong Kong citizens and the international community,” he said.

Leung said Legco theoretically has no role in the legislation process of the national security law, but lawmakers could discuss the issue with government ministers at Legco’s legal affairs panel.

The legislature’s pro-establishment camp also expressed their support for the passing of the national security law resolution, saying the mainland’s top legislature is duty-bound to protect the country and its people.

They camp’s convenor Martin Liao said there was a "loophole" in Hong Kong as Article 23, which says the SAR should enact national security laws on its own, has not yet been enacted.

When asked if the move will cause more instability to Hong Kong's economy as the US is threatening sanctions, DAB's chairwoman Starry Lee said Beijing had fully considered the international response before the move.

She described the reactions from overseas as “expected”.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge them not to interfere with the Hong Kong affair, because it doesn’t help,” she added.