The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), commonly known as the Hong Kong national security law, continues to play a central role in maintaining stability and order in the region, according to members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) who emphasized the significance of the law on Thursday.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Hong Kong national security law. The law was passed at the 20th session of the 13th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on June 30, 2020.
With 66 articles in six chapters, the law clearly defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offenses -- secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties.
The law came after prolonged social unrest and escalating street violence had plunged Hong Kong into the gravest situation since its return to the motherland in 1997. Rampant activities of "Hong Kong independence" organizations and violent radicals as well as blatant interference by external forces disrupted Hong Kong residents' daily life and threatened their safety.
"Look at what happened, even 2012, when we had 'Occupy Central', when staff working across the street from here, restaurant staff, they would check the ID [to see] whether they were employed by the restaurant, [or] by these 'Occupy Central' people. They are not policemen. So, this is why if you look at, from 2012 to 2019, then you know why the national security law is a must for Hong Kong," said Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, a LegCo member.
"The Hong Kong national security law has been drafted and enacted with great details and care. We would not casually prosecute someone unless they really have done something very harmful to Hong Kong and the national security," said Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, another LegCo member.
In response to claims from some Western countries that the national security law has "eroded freedoms," Cheung refuted them by saying, "The Western media try to put fear into Hong Kong's people's mind, [like] 'With this, you're dead. You're worse off.' But we are now seeing it for a few years how good things have gone for businesses and for everything basically."
"The national security law is not eroding the freedom of the citizens [residents] of Hong Kong. Rather, it protects the freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom to study, to enforce our right, to work and do business. That is a huge contrast of 2025 from 2019," Leung added.
Both lawmakers highlighted that the national security law has boosted investor confidence.
By the end of July, the total number of registered local companies in Hong Kong surpassed 1.5 million, while over 15,000 non-Hong Kong companies were also registered, both figures marking historical highs, according to John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Aug 10.
From January 2023 to July 2025, Invest Hong Kong assisted 1,333 enterprises in establishing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong, attracting 174 billion Hong Kong dollars (22.17 billion U.S. dollars) in first-year direct investment and creating over 19,000 new jobs, Lee said in a video posted on social media.
"Now with the national security law, Hong Kong is now, I think, back to our old self where we have safety, where we have the rule of law, where you can actually be happy to own businesses and to run businesses, and not worry about rioters vandalizing your shop," said Cheung.
"We have a very strong system under 'One Country, Two Systems'. Hong Kong has very low tax system. It's a free port. We have free currency. And we are a bilingual legal system which serves as a very good bridge between the mainland of China and the [rest of the] world," said Leung.
Hong Kong lawmakers extol positive changes brought by national security law
Hong Kong lawmakers extol positive changes brought by national security law
