National and political security inseparable, Carrie Lam says

National security and political security are inseparable, the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today at the national security day opening event and seminars at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

“National security and political security are inseparable. To achieve genuine national security, governance must be firmly held in the hands of patriots,'' she said.

“With the approval of the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on March 30 this year, Hong Kong submitted the local laws for improving the electoral system of the HKSAR, that is the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, to the Legislative Council for scrutiny yesterday.

“This has actually made today's national security education day even more fulfilling.

“The two major measures taken by the central authorities this year have stabilized the overall situation of Hong Kong and laid an important and solid foundation for the comprehensive and accurate implementation of the principles of "One Country, Two Systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.''

National security is the cornerstone of national stability and the bedrock of people's well-being, Lam said.

“Safeguarding national security is the top priority for every country around the world. An inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, the HKSAR bears the constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. Like all compatriots in the country, Hong Kong residents share the obligation to safeguard national sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity.

“Regrettably, since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, local legislative work for safeguarding national security has been demonised by people with ulterior motives, turning Hong Kong into a loophole of national security, which not only endangers the safety of Hong Kong people, but also that of the people of the whole country.

“Together with the influence of external forces and propaganda by local radicals through the Internet, national security risks have gradually surfaced in Hong Kong.

"For over one year since mid-2019, violence has raged across the city, with the emergence of acts close to terrorism and the spread of messages advocating "Hong Kong independence", "self-determination" and "mutual destruction" in our society.''

Lam said that a small group of anti-China disruptors created chaos in the Legislative Council and tried to seize power through election, posing great security risks to the Hong Kong society and our political system. Such acts, if not stopped in time, will endanger national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; the Director of the Liaison Office in Hong Kong and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, Luo Huining; the head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, and the acting commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, were among the guests.

An exhibition related to national security is also being held at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai.