The Department of Justice will join hands with the Security Bureau in promoting Basic law article 23 legislation and the national security law, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said.

The department will host legal forums on article 23 and the national security law as key events for Hong Kong's 25th anniversary handover celebrations this year.

"The DoJ will render its full support to the Security Bureau in taking forward the enactment of local laws to implement article 23 of the basic law so as to prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law," Cheng said on her online blog yesterday.

"We are dedicated to safeguarding national security so that people may live and work in peace and contentment, as well as ensuring that the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of our return to the motherland go smoothly," she added.

The DoJ will also organize conferences on the Basic Law and the security law, which are among the key events in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the handover, she said.

"Experts will be invited to share with us a proper understanding of the concepts of the constitution, the basic law and national security so that we will not only move from stability to prosperity, but will also thrive with security," she said.

Cheng said the department is also aiming to raise awareness of the rule of law this year.

Teaching materials on the constitution, the Basic Law and national security as well as the rule of law are now available for teachers. I hope that everyone in the community will work together to safeguard the rule of law as a cornerstone of our society," she said.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said in an interview with China News Agency he will focus on pushing forward article 23 legislation this year.

The bureau's biggest achievement last year was national security as many "anti-China agitators" had been arrested, Tang said.

"The cessation of Apple Daily impressed me the most. This newspaper was poisoning Hongkongers, especially giving the young people a wrong idea about China," Tang said. "Since the newspaper has been shut down now, the society will be better and more democratic," he added.

"The national security law and the 'patriots administering Hong Kong' principle in the new Legislative Council term marked a new milestone in Hong Kong's democracy. I'm looking forward to this era of rebirth for Hong Kong."

Teresa Cheng

Apple Daily was 'giving young people a wrong idea about China,' said Chris Tang.

Article 23 and security law push in 'era of rebirth'