Xi Signs Presidential Order To Promulgate HK Law

President Xi Jinping has signed a presidential order to promulgate Hong Kong's new national security law, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday evening.

A brief report in English said the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) had ended its session, adopting the law.

The NPCSC also adopted a decision to add the legislation into the list of the national laws in Annex III of the Basic Law.

Presiding over the end of the session, standing committee chairman Li Zhanshu said the "One Country, Two Systems" cause should be "steered towards the right direction", Xinhua said.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said the introduction of the law is a "milestone" for One Country, Two Systems, and it will be like a "sharp sword" hanging over the heads of those who endanger national security.

While the legislation will threaten a minority of people who undermine national security, it will be like a "patron saint" for the majority of Hong Kong residents, protecting their freedoms, the HKMAO said in a statement.

Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong said no one should underestimate the ability of the central government and relevant authorities in the SAR to enforce the national security law strictly.

In a statement, it said Beijing had already made serious assessments and was well-prepared for different scenarios in the implementation of the law.