National security legislation for HK a milestone in 'one country, two systems'

The National Security Law for Hong Kong is a "milestone" in the practice of "one country, two systems", and China's top legislature will continue to safeguard the special administrative region's constitutional order, said Wang Chao, spokesman for the first session of the 14th National People's Congress.

At a news briefing in Beijing on Saturday, a day before the opening of the NPC session, Wang said that ever since the law was implemented in the HKSAR on June 30, 2020, the mechanisms for protecting national security in Hong Kong have been constantly improved, and national security in the SAR has been effectively safeguarded.

The law has also effectively safeguarded Hong Kong's social order, the rule of law, its business environment, economic development and its residents' legitimate rights and freedoms. The overall situation in the SAR has turned from chaos to order, Wang said, adding that a recent survey found that 75.7 percent of Hong Kong residents are satisfied with the implementation of the law.

Under the guiding principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", he said, the SAR elected deputies to the 14th NPC in accordance with the law.

Wang believes the new deputies will continue to uphold the nation's Constitution and the HKSAR's Basic Law, and fully implement "one country, two systems".

Wang hopes they'll firmly safeguard the nation's core interests and actively contribute to the development of the SAR and the nation.

In an interview with China Daily on Saturday, Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, said the HKSAR's capabilities in offshore trade are good catalysts for the country's development.

He noted that Hong Kong not only provides a strong catalytic force in promoting global finance and trade, but can also play an important role in building people-to-people relationships under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chu Lap-wai, a new Hong Kong deputy to the 14th NPC, said he made a lot of preparations for attending this year's NPC session, such as strengthening the understanding of his work as an NPC deputy and doing research for the suggestions he wants to raise at the annual session.

Chu, who made his first cross-boundary journey after three years, said that before departing for Beijing on Friday, Hong Kong's NPC deputies actively exchanged their suggestions at the airport.

He pledged to earnestly perform his duty in bridging Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, and further deepening the SAR's integration into national development.

Oswald Chan in Hong Kong, Xue Jingqi and Zhang Xinran in Beijing contributed to this story.