People who are really in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) appreciate the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, said Hong Kong legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, emphasizing the vital role the law has played in restoring peace, stability and prosperity to the region over the past five years.
In an interview to China Global Television Network (CGTN), Leung hailed the law for its positive impact on the daily lives of Hong Kong residents, highlighting its contribution to securing a strong rule of law and protecting both national security and individual freedoms.
She pointed out that before the introduction of the national security law in 2020, Hong Kong was plagued by unrest and instability, which disrupted daily life and posed significant threats to public safety.
"I think people who are really in Hong Kong would appreciate a lot for the implementation of the national security law promulgated in 2020. Right before that, Hong Kong was in chaos, was in a situation and condition that I have [had] never been imagining, because [at that time] people actually can [could] easily put things on fire, we cannot [could not] go to school and go to work normally, etc. So, I think we have already got the public support that Hong Kong after the promulgation of this law and we came back to our normal life. Hong Kong businesses have been protected with a stronger system of the rule of law. And only a very, very small portion of people who got very radical and breached the law would be sentenced by law. And [for] most other people living in Hong Kong, we enjoyed our daily lives, we come back to the Hong Kong that I was familiar with when I grew up," said Leung, also a deputy to China's National People's Congress and Basic Law Committee member.
With the introduction of the national security law, Leung emphasized, the Hong Kong SAR has successfully returned to normalcy.
The law, which aims to safeguard national security while preserving the freedoms and rights of the Hong Kong residents, has garnered widespread public support.
"Hong Kong, you know, after making efforts for this five years, we adhere to a very very strong system of the rule of law, also a low tax policy with the freest economy on Earth. And that doesn't come in a second. It takes the effort, and the national security law has played an important part to secure a very normal life for all citizens [residents] in Hong Kong," she said.
Notably, Leung also highlighted the law's alignment with international human rights standards. She said that the law's impact extends beyond individual safety to the overall health of Hong Kong's economy.
The region's robust legal system, coupled with its low tax policies and free-market economy, has helped preserve its position as one of the most competitive and dynamic economies in the world.
"Hong Kong actually is very, very happy right now. Actually, if you see other parts of the world, you can see the national security law, with the existence of Article Four and Article Five, as well as section two of our national security ordinance, we spell out the protection of human rights in accordance with the international covenant of political and civil liberties. If you compare the national security laws all over the world, in UK, in U.S. and other common law jurisdiction, I can guarantee here the peace of national security law in Hong Kong is a really, really modern piece of law as well as is very, very in line with international standards to protect the freedom of speech, to protect the freedom of expression, the freedom of movement, etc. You know, [in] Hong Kong, even we protect the greatest economic freedom. So that's why we attract again. We are read Number One, will be the most competitive economy on Earth. It's not just from who and who say it; it's by our performance, our system which is protected by the basic law of Hong Kong, which is the highest law as regarded in the Hong Kong SAR," Leung said.
National security law strengthens Hong Kong's stability, prosperity, freedom: legislator
