Q: On March 19, the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR unanimously voted in favour of the passage of the Safeguarding National Security Bill. US media like New York Times reported that the ordinance is sweeping, broad, and deliberately vague, erodes civil liberties and will damage Hong Kong’s role as a global financial center and trigger concerns among US enterprises in Hong Kong. What’s your comment on this?

A: This is pure slander and smear against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance of Hong Kong.

The passage of the safeguarding national security bill by a unanimous vote of the HKSAR Legislative Council is another milestone since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. It marked the effective implementation by the HKSAR of the constitutional responsibility stipulated under Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law, consolidating the foundation for Hong Kong's long-term peace, prosperity and stability, and will ensure Hong Kong's high-quality development with a high level of security. Hong Kong is set to thrive with a brighter future. The ordinance is in line with the will of the people, ensures security and fosters development. Over 98.6 percent of the views received during a previous public consultation showed support for the legislation and gave positive comments.

Security is the prerequisite for development, and the rule of law is the cornerstone of prosperity. In the turmoil after the proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong in 2019, “black-clad violence” “Hong Kong independence” and rioters clamoring for “mutual destruction” impeded local economic growth and resulted in social unrest. When people’s livelihoods are not even secure, there is no foundation to boost Hong Kong’s economy and expand its openness to the world.

The ordinance strikes a balance between safeguarding national security and upholding rights, freedoms and economic development, fully draws on other countries’ legislation experience in the same field, and ensures the well-being, rights and interests of Hong Kong residents, while offering protection for foreign institutions, organizations and personnel in Hong Kong to engage in legitimate exchanges and business activities. It helps HKSAR to further coordinate between development and security, create a business environment that is safe, convenient and efficient, strengthen the confidence of local and overseas investors, better harness Hong Kong’s unique status and advantage, and deepen closer and more open exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and countries and regions in the world.

With the implementation of the ordinance, the acts and activities of a small number of people that endanger national security will be prevented, stopped and punished according to law, and the majority of Hong Kong people and international investors will benefit from it. Hong Kong will continue to be a promising land for foreign investments, including those from the US.

With high-level security guarantee, we are fully confident in Hong Kong achieving high-quality development and high-standard opening up and we are fully confident in the sound implementation of One Country, Two Systems in the long run and Hong Kong’s stability and thriving development. The Chinese Consulate General in New York will, as always, welcome, encourage and support US enterprises in our consular district to invest and develop their business in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland, share the opportunities of China's development and achieve mutual benefits.

Unwarranted slander and smear against the ordinance does not change the fact the ordinance is a good and right legislation, but only reveals the ignorance and double-standard of related media on Hong Kong. We hope US media

outlets will cover Hong Kong and China in an objective, fair and balanced way to maintain their own credibility.