Now is the right time to enact legislation according to Article 23
日期：2023-07-14来源：
紫荆
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By Tu Haiming
A recent opinion poll showed that 80.4 percent of the 2,412 respondents believe national security defense has significantly improved in Hong Kong, while 76.8 percent and 77.8 percent of them, respectively, believe it has become safer to live in the city and its rule of law has been enhanced since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL). These results, reflecting true public sentiment, are significant for the city.
Indeed, the enactment of the NSL has boosted investor confidence in the future of the city by restoring peace and order. Now residents can make a living and businesses can cooperate in a safe environment, and the city is once again infused with economic vitality.
Three years ago, local subversives joined hands with external anti-China forces to plunge Hong Kong into chaos. Students’ schooling was interrupted; employees were unable to go to their workplace; business operations were disrupted; the Legislative Council was paralyzed; residents opposing subversive activities were beaten up and terrorized, with one of them being set on fire, and a lawmaker being stabbed.
Now, three years after the implementation of the NSL, the number of international exhibitions, conferences and sport events being held in Hong Kong is on the rise; the city is getting more connected with the Chinese mainland; and overseas investors enjoy an increasingly pleasant investment environment. Hong Kong was also rated as the economy with the best business environment for 28 consecutive years. The city has recorded a large influx of capital following the debacles of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse — convincing evidence of the city’s safe-haven trait.
The NSL has served its intended purpose. About a month before the NSL came into force, a batch of local subversives announced their retreat or disbandment. One month into the NSL’s implementation, a bunch of secessionists fled overseas. Three years since the NSL was enforced, those who allegedly endangered national security were held accountable. Recently, a Hong Kong woman suspected of instigating separatism abroad was arrested and prosecuted. The arrest, which indicates that criminal activities committed overseas are also liable to prosecution, foretells that more separatists in foreign lands will be brought to justice in due course.
The NSL has also helped Hong Kong society weed out pernicious elements, putting its house in order. For instance, the education sector has replaced the contentious Liberal Studies subject with the Citizenship and Social Development, which will play a positive role in establishing national identity among secondary students.
That said, the implementation of the NSL was not without hiccups, which were mainly because of the judiciary’s inaccurate or incomplete understanding of some NSL provisions, with some principles and procedures of Hong Kong law having been incorrectly applied to issues arising from NSL cases.
Although the current robust economic rebound indicates optimism about Hong Kong’s future development, there are signs of national security risks that are too important to ignore.
The first sign is persistent activities of “soft resistance”. Hong Kong is known to have many deep-seated issues that need addressing urgently. While the SAR government is committed to resolving these issues, the hidden resistance forces have always tried to derail government efforts under misguiding pretexts, with the purpose of fomenting discontent, provoking and intensifying conflict, or galvanizing people to take to the streets.
The second sign is increasing anti-establishment propaganda activities on social media platforms. Such messages or texts floated on social media platforms, which were always followed by a bulk of comments trying to stir up the pot, were crafted in such a wily manner that it was difficult to distinguish facts from lies. Clearly some people harboring ulterior motives were propagating anti-establishment propaganda to toxify public sentiment.
The third sign is the confluence of separatist forces. After lying low for some time, fugitives are now frequently making public appearances overseas and engaging in subversive activities such as initiating anti-China discussions, seeking support and recruiting apologists, ganging up with foreign Sinophobes and secessionists in Taiwan, spreading disinformation and maligning Hong Kong. These moves indicate that separatists overseas are looking for a comeback.
These signs once again remind us there is no room for complacency on safeguarding national security. The city’s focus on economic development must not come at the expense of national security defense. Ignoring the undercurrent of separatism will potentially run the risk of allowing agitators to revive and pushing Hong Kong yet again into the abyss of insurrection and social unrest. It is, therefore, imperative to shore up national security defense by fully implementing the NSL and enacting legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law sooner rather than later.
Article 23 legislation has been procrastinated over for 26 years and it brooks no further delay. With executive-led governance now firmly in place in Hong Kong, political saboteurs now excluded from its political establishment, and patriotism having taken hold in society, the incumbent SAR administration possesses more political energy than its predecessors and is well-positioned to push for the legislation.
Hong Kong society should come to appreciate the fact that the NSL does not in any way diminish the need for Article 23 legislation, which will complement the former in many ways.
Xia Baolong, director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, has previously admonished that the root of the chaos has not been eradicated, and the foundation of peace and order still needs to be fortified. What he said was spot on. It’s high time we raised public awareness of national security risks and plug the remaining loopholes by enacting legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law.
The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of Bauhinia Magazine.
Now is the right time to enact legislation according to Article 23
紫荆
2023-07-14 10:47
2023-07-14 10:47
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By Tu Haiming
A recent opinion poll showed that 80.4 percent of the 2,412 respondents believe national security defense has significantly improved in Hong Kong, while 76.8 percent and 77.8 percent of them, respectively, believe it has become safer to live in the city and its rule of law has been enhanced since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL). These results, reflecting true public sentiment, are significant for the city.
Indeed, the enactment of the NSL has boosted investor confidence in the future of the city by restoring peace and order. Now residents can make a living and businesses can cooperate in a safe environment, and the city is once again infused with economic vitality.
Three years ago, local subversives joined hands with external anti-China forces to plunge Hong Kong into chaos. Students’ schooling was interrupted; employees were unable to go to their workplace; business operations were disrupted; the Legislative Council was paralyzed; residents opposing subversive activities were beaten up and terrorized, with one of them being set on fire, and a lawmaker being stabbed.
Now, three years after the implementation of the NSL, the number of international exhibitions, conferences and sport events being held in Hong Kong is on the rise; the city is getting more connected with the Chinese mainland; and overseas investors enjoy an increasingly pleasant investment environment. Hong Kong was also rated as the economy with the best business environment for 28 consecutive years. The city has recorded a large influx of capital following the debacles of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse — convincing evidence of the city’s safe-haven trait.
The NSL has served its intended purpose. About a month before the NSL came into force, a batch of local subversives announced their retreat or disbandment. One month into the NSL’s implementation, a bunch of secessionists fled overseas. Three years since the NSL was enforced, those who allegedly endangered national security were held accountable. Recently, a Hong Kong woman suspected of instigating separatism abroad was arrested and prosecuted. The arrest, which indicates that criminal activities committed overseas are also liable to prosecution, foretells that more separatists in foreign lands will be brought to justice in due course.
The NSL has also helped Hong Kong society weed out pernicious elements, putting its house in order. For instance, the education sector has replaced the contentious Liberal Studies subject with the Citizenship and Social Development, which will play a positive role in establishing national identity among secondary students.
That said, the implementation of the NSL was not without hiccups, which were mainly because of the judiciary’s inaccurate or incomplete understanding of some NSL provisions, with some principles and procedures of Hong Kong law having been incorrectly applied to issues arising from NSL cases.
Although the current robust economic rebound indicates optimism about Hong Kong’s future development, there are signs of national security risks that are too important to ignore.
The first sign is persistent activities of “soft resistance”. Hong Kong is known to have many deep-seated issues that need addressing urgently. While the SAR government is committed to resolving these issues, the hidden resistance forces have always tried to derail government efforts under misguiding pretexts, with the purpose of fomenting discontent, provoking and intensifying conflict, or galvanizing people to take to the streets.
The second sign is increasing anti-establishment propaganda activities on social media platforms. Such messages or texts floated on social media platforms, which were always followed by a bulk of comments trying to stir up the pot, were crafted in such a wily manner that it was difficult to distinguish facts from lies. Clearly some people harboring ulterior motives were propagating anti-establishment propaganda to toxify public sentiment.
The third sign is the confluence of separatist forces. After lying low for some time, fugitives are now frequently making public appearances overseas and engaging in subversive activities such as initiating anti-China discussions, seeking support and recruiting apologists, ganging up with foreign Sinophobes and secessionists in Taiwan, spreading disinformation and maligning Hong Kong. These moves indicate that separatists overseas are looking for a comeback.
These signs once again remind us there is no room for complacency on safeguarding national security. The city’s focus on economic development must not come at the expense of national security defense. Ignoring the undercurrent of separatism will potentially run the risk of allowing agitators to revive and pushing Hong Kong yet again into the abyss of insurrection and social unrest. It is, therefore, imperative to shore up national security defense by fully implementing the NSL and enacting legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law sooner rather than later.
Article 23 legislation has been procrastinated over for 26 years and it brooks no further delay. With executive-led governance now firmly in place in Hong Kong, political saboteurs now excluded from its political establishment, and patriotism having taken hold in society, the incumbent SAR administration possesses more political energy than its predecessors and is well-positioned to push for the legislation.
Hong Kong society should come to appreciate the fact that the NSL does not in any way diminish the need for Article 23 legislation, which will complement the former in many ways.
Xia Baolong, director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, has previously admonished that the root of the chaos has not been eradicated, and the foundation of peace and order still needs to be fortified. What he said was spot on. It’s high time we raised public awareness of national security risks and plug the remaining loopholes by enacting legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law.
The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of Bauhinia Magazine.
Now is the right time to enact legislation according to Article 23
It’s high time we raised public awareness of national security risks and plug the remaining loopholes by enacting legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law.
