The National Security Law for the HKSAR Ensures the Steady Implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’
香港国安法正式实施，“一国两制”必将行稳致远
Ambassador Cong Peiwu Publishes a Signed Article on Ottawa Life Magazine
驻加拿大大使丛培武在《渥太华生活》杂志发表署名文章
10 July 2020
2020年7月10日
A few days ago, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was adopted at the 20th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee. And the NPC Standing Committee formulated this law and listed it in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law which has been gazetted and enacted in Hong Kong by the SAR government. This is a fundamental solution for Hong Kong to restore order, end chaos and resume stability. It is a landmark in the practice of “one country, two systems”.
日前，十三届全国人大常委会第二十次会议通过《中华人民共和国香港特别行政区维护国家安全法》，并将该法列入香港基本法附件三，由香港特区在当地公布实施。这是香港恢复秩序、由乱及治的根本之策，是“一国两制”实践中具有里程碑意义的大事、好事、喜事。
Since the turbulence over proposed legislative amendments last year, Hong Kong has witnessed and experienced continuous social unrest, escalating street violence, and rampant “Hong Kong independence” rhetoric and actions, and blatant external interference in Hong Kong’s affairs, which has grossly trampled on China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. As a result, Hong Kong has been plunged into the gravest situation since its return. For instance, the city has lost the title of the world’s freest economy it had held for 25 years. Its GDP registered negative growth for the first time in a decade, and the unemployment rate hit a record high in nearly 10 years. Those who truly care about and love Hong Kong do not want to see such situation to continue there.
去年“修例风波”以来，香港社会持续动荡，街头暴力升级，“港独”言行猖獗，外部势力公然干预香港事务，严重危害国家主权、安全、发展利益。香港陷入回归以来最危急的局面，痛失保持了25年的全球最自由经济体地位，GDP十年来首次出现负增长，失业率创下近十年新高。任何爱护和关心香港的人都不愿看到这样的局面继续下去。
The central government bears the largest and the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding national security. Establishing and improving at the state level a legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is a major measure to stay committed to and improve the “one country, two systems” framework, and a fundamental way to preserve Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. It has highlighted the firm resolve of the central government to fully and faithfully implement “one country, two systems”.
中央政府对维护国家安全负有最大和最终的责任。从国家层面建立健全香港特区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制，是坚持和完善“一国两制”制度体系的重大举措，是维护香港长治久安与繁荣稳定的治本之策，彰显了中央政府全面准确贯彻落实“一国两制”的坚定决心。
The national security law for the HKSAR addresses the most imminent risks to national security in Hong Kong, targets the four categories of crimes including secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security. The law also clearly stipulates that the rights and freedoms, including right to free expression, including press and publication work, and freedom of assembly, procession and demonstration, enjoyed by HKSAR residents under the Basic Law of the HKSAR and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law. The security law will serve as a “sharp sword” hanging over a tiny number of criminals endangering national security. But for the vast majority of Hong Kong residents, including foreigners in Hong Kong, the law is the “guardian” of their rights, freedoms and peaceful life. The legislation for Hong Kong will not change the “one country, two systems” principle. It will not change the capitalist system or the high degree of autonomy practiced in Hong Kong. It will not change the legal system in the HKSAR. Nor will it affect the HKSAR’s executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.
香港国安法针对的是维护国家安全最突出的风险点，法律规管的是分裂国家、颠覆国家政权、恐怖活动、勾结外国或境外势力危害国家安全的四类罪行。该法总则中明确规定，香港特别行政区维护国家安全应当尊重和保障人权，坚持法治原则。该法并明确地规定，依法保护香港特别行政区居民根据香港特别行政区基本法和《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》、《经济、社会与文化权利的国际公约》适用于香港的有关规定享有的包括言论、新闻、出版的自由，结社、集会、游行、示威的自由在内的权利和自由。可以说，对于那些危害国家安全的极少数人，这部法律是高悬的利剑；对于绝大多数香港居民包括在港外国人来说，这部法律是保障其权利自由和安宁生活的“守护神”。香港国安立法后，“一国两制”方针不会变，香港实施的资本主义制度不会变，高度自治不会变，特区法律制度不会变，不会影响特区司法机关享有的独立司法权和终审权。
The national security law for the HKSAR is firmly supported by the mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong and the forces of justice in the international community. Nearly three million people in Hong Kong have signed a petition in support of the enactment of the Law, and more than 1.28 million have signed an online petition opposing the interference by the US and other external forces. Representatives from, among others, the political, legal, business, financial, educational, scientific, cultural, religious, youth and labor sectors as well as social and local organizations in Hong Kong candidly expressed their opinions and support for the legislation. At the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council held recently, more than 70 countries voiced their support for China’s legislation and urged certain countries to immediately stop interfering China’s internal affairs under the pretext of Hong Kong. It illustrates a simple truth: fair-minded people can tell right from wrong.
国安立法得到香港主流民意和国际社会正义力量的坚定支持。近300万香港民众联署“撑国安立法”签名行动，超过128万香港民众参与“反对美国等外部势力干预”网上联署。香港政界、法律、工商、金融、教育、科技、文化、宗教、青年、劳工等各界以及社会团体、地方团体纷纷表达意见支持立法。近日，70多个国家在联合国人权理事会第44届会议上表态支持中方上述立法，敦促有关国家立即停止利用涉港问题干涉中国内政。这说明公道自在人心。
Standard and Poor’s (S&P), an international credit rating agency, recently released a report, saying that with the national security law for the HKSAR coming into effect, the autonomy of the HKSAR government in formulating economic policies in accordance with the Basic Law will not be affected. S&P has affirmed its AA+ issuer credit ratings on Hong Kong and maintained the outlook as stable. The above fact shows international investors’ confidence in Hong Kong’s future.
近日，国际信用评级机构标准普尔发布报告认为，香港国安法生效后，不会影响特区政府根据香港基本法制定经济政策的自主权，维持香港长期信用发行人信用评级为“AA+”，评级展望维持在“稳定”。这显示出国际投资者对香港未来的信心。
This legislation takes into full consideration the realistic needs of safeguarding national security and the specific conditions of the HKSAR and sets out systemic and comprehensive provisions regarding a legal system and enforcement mechanisms at both national and SAR levels. This upholds the constitutional order in the HKSAR established by the Constitution and the Basic Law. In the legislative process, the central authorities and relevant departments had solicited through various means and channels opinions and suggestions from all sectors of HKSAR to ensure the lawmaking in a well-conceived and democratic way and in accordance with law. Relevant central departments had solicited opinions from principal leading officials of the HKSAR government, legal experts in Hong Kong, Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong members of the CPPCC National Committee, and also opened online and offline channels through Hong Kong social organizations to listen to the views of various sectors of the Hong Kong community and take the fair suggestions, so as to ensure that the legislative process of the national security law for the HKSAR conforms to Hong Kong’s overwhelming opinion.
香港国安法充分考虑维护国家安全现实需要和香港特区的具体情况，从中央和香港特区两个层面就法律制度和执行机制作出系统全面的规定，维护了宪法和基本法确立的香港特区的宪制秩序。在立法过程中，中央通过多种形式广泛听取香港社会各界人士意见，确保科学立法、民主立法、依法立法。其中，中央听取了香港特区主要官员、香港法律专家、港区全国人大代表和各级政协委员的意见，通过香港社会组织广开其他线上及线下渠道，广泛听取香港社会各界的意见，吸纳有益建议，确保香港国安立法过程契合香港最大民意。
Hong Kong is part of China, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference. With the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong, the city will usher in a new historical opportunity to end chaos, resume stability and return to normal, and the “one country, two systems” will embrace a long-term and steady development. We are convinced that its implementation will strengthen Hong Kong’s legal framework, ensure social order, improve business environment, and benefit Hong Kong citizens and international investors including Canada. We have every confidence in the bright prospects of Hong Kong.
香港是中国的香港，香港事务纯属中国内政，不容任何外部势力干预。随着香港国安法的实施，香港将迎来由乱到治、重返正轨的历史新机遇，开启“一国两制”行稳致远的历史新篇章。我们相信，法律实施后，香港的法律体系将更加完备，社会秩序将更加稳定，营商环境将更加良好，广大香港市民和包括加拿大在内的国际投资者都将从中受益，我们对香港的光明未来充满信心。