Chinese security ministry says Article 23 legislation a ‘must-do task’ for Hong Kong

The Article 23 legislation is a "must-do task" for Hong Kong in fulfilling its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, addressing national security risks and challenges, and improving the system for upholding national security, China’s Ministry of State Security said on Monday.

The ministry said it is essential for Hong Kong to enact domestic security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law taking into account legal requirements, lessons from history, and developmental needs.

It said anti-China forces have exploited the names of democracy, freedom, and human rights to cause chaos and subvert the country in recent years.

It is necessary to complete the legislative exercise of Article 23 decisively to eliminate the chaos at its source, it added.