City's national security secretary appointed

The State Council on Thursday appointed Eric Chan Kwok-ki as secretary-general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In accordance with stipulations of the new National Security Law for Hong Kong, Chan was appointed upon nomination by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Chan will continue to serve as director of the Office of the Chief Executive.

Chan, who was born in 1959, has served in the city's government for 38 years, joining Hong Kong's immigration department as assistant immigration officer in 1982 and moving up through the ranks in that office to become the director.

Lam praised Chan's "distinguished performance" leading the chief executive's office. She also vouched for Chan's capacity to lead the secretariat that will support the committee on national security.

The appointment came two days after the law took effect. On Wednesday, Lam and other principal officials of the SAR government vowed to make every effort to enforce the law so that its legislative intent is achieved.

The new law's purposes are to prevent, curb and punish crimes, namely acts of secession, subversion of State power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, maintain the prosperity and stability of the HKSAR and protect the lawful rights and interests of HKSAR residents, the law states.

The law, newly adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, stipulates that a committee chaired by the SAR's chief executive will be established and bear the major responsibility for safeguarding national security.

Xinhua contributed to this story.