National Security Law ensures HK's prosperity

It is alarmist and politically biased to claim that the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong in 2020 has assimilated the special administrative region into the mainland and thus affects its status as an international financial center, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Huang Liuquan, a deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a conference in Beijing about the implementation of China's "one country, two systems" policy in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions over the past 10 years.

All countries have their own laws to safeguard their national security, and the Hong Kong National Security Law is no different than those in other regions, he said.

Huang said that facts have proved that after the implementation of the city's National Security Law, the rule of law has been restored, people have returned to living more peaceful lives and the business environment has improved in Hong Kong.

"A recent poll in Hong Kong also shows that 71.9 percent of respondents believe that the implementation of the National Security Law has strengthened people's confidence in the practice of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong," he said.

The central government has always valued Hong Kong's unique advantages of being backed by the motherland while being connected to the world, Huang said, adding that efforts have been made to help the city consolidate its position as an international financial, shipping and trade center and establish a free, open and regulated business environment.

He said that some recent reports have shown that the international community recognizes Hong Kong's status as the freest economy and the most competitive region in the world.

Among them, Canada's Fraser Institute continued to rank Hong Kong at the top of 165 economies in the Economic Freedom of the World 2022 Annual Report it recently released.

"Facts fully demonstrate that the National Security Law will not undermine Hong Kong's economic freedom. Instead, it provides a very solid legal guarantee for Hong Kong to maintain prosperity and stability and consolidate its competitive edge," Huang said.

Huang also denied the claim that Hong Kong has seen a wave of emigration based on the city's population drop of 1.6 percent to around 7.29 million in the past year and said that there were many reasons for Hong Kong's population decline.

Wang Linggui, also a deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the conference that "one country, two systems" is a great initiative of socialism with Chinese characteristics and has been tested and proved time and again.

He said that it's China's invariable policy to fully and accurately implement "one country, two systems" and as President Xi Jinping said at a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, there is no reason to change such a good system and it must be adhered to over the long run.