Vow to enact 'protective shield' Article 23 next year

Hong Kong should enact Article 23 of the Basic Law on time to create a safe environment for development, Hong Kong's liaison office director Zheng Yanxiong said in a seminar on Constitution Day.

He also said the comprehensive implementation of China's constitution is the only way to maintain Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity.

This year's Constitution Day seminar, with the theme of "Constitution and Chinese Modernization," was attended by Dong Jingwei, head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the central government in the SAR, and Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

Addressing the seminar, Zheng said national security is the fundamental premise of Chinese-style modernization, while it is Hong Kong's constitutional responsibility to safeguard the matter.

He urged Hong Kong to complete the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law "on time to create a favorable and safe environment for development and create a more stable business environment for global investors and entrepreneurs to invest and develop their businesses."

Zheng also called on the SAR government to expedite the development of the city into an international innovation and technology center, step up improving systems for scientific and technological innovation, and build global hubs for talent and innovation.

Lee said Basic Law Article 23 is a "strong protective shield" over Hong Kong's law.

"The government is making full preparations to complete [Basic Law Article 23] legislation exercise next year.

"The law will put in place a good and effective system along with the National Security Law to safeguard, build a strong protective shield, and lay down the most solid cornerstone of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability."

Lee emphasized nurturing a "new patriotic generation" that would safeguard the full governance of the Central government in Hong Kong.

"The government will coordinate on all fronts to build up mainstream values of patriotism in the community, which are in line with the one country, two systems principle, so that it will take root in the hearts of citizens," Lee said.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Facebook yesterday that the enactment of Article 23 will be the Security Bureau's focus next year.

"I realized that as a government official, I must always take the sovereignty, security, and development interests of my country, and the future of Hong Kong as my responsibility, and serve the people of Hong Kong."

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com