'Huge challenge' in national security push

Respecting and abiding by the national security law is a "due obligation" for Hongkongers, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said yesterday.

Officiating at the launch of the first territory-wide inter-school national security knowledge challenge at the former French mission building in Central, Lam said cultivating a sense of the need to safeguard security among the people is a "huge challenge," as he does not want the law to be misunderstood due to smears and malicious attacks.

"The government hopes the people can understand national security is the cornerstone of national stability, and also the protection of people's wonderful livelihood," he said.

"It is not only a legal responsibility for people to respect and abide by laws in safeguarding national security, but also a due obligation," he added.

Lam also hoped students could understand the importance and urgency of doing so and develop a sense of national identity through the challenge, the first to be held by the Department of Justice, the security and education bureaus and Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation to celebrate Constitution Day today and the coming national security education day on April 15.

More than 102,000 students from 585 secondary and primary schools have participated in an online contest in October, and 54 schools have made it to the quarter-finals.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said, in a video speech, he hoped students shared with their families and friends knowledge and thoughts acquired from the challenge and proactively contribute to safeguarding national security.

The government, he added, had started work on a draft of an anti-subversion law in line with Basic Law article 23 and will complete the process within the next year.

He said people who love Hong Kong would support the law to "fulfill the constitutional responsibility of the SAR and their civic responsibility as well as obligation to safeguard security."

Security chief Chris Tang Ping-keung said wider coverage and up-to-date activities are needed to promote national security education among teenagers.

Undersecretary for Education Sze Chun-fai said the bureau will conduct lectures for secondary school teachers to enhance understanding of national security in the 2023-24 year.