The torch route for China's 15th National Games was unveiled at a press conference held in Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday.
The Games, running from Nov 9 to 21, will be co-hosted by Guangdong Province and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
At the press conference, officials from the executive committee of the Games briefed on the plan for the torch relay.
The torch relay is scheduled to start on Nov 2 at the Lianhua Mountain Park in the tech hub of Shenzhen City in Guangdong, with the co-hosting regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Guaongdong launching separate kick-off ceremonies taking place simultaneously.
Different from that for the previous National Games, this year's torch relay features innovations in both its format and route design.
"This time, we've introduced many innovative technological means, especially in connecting the relay routes. We will adopt drones, driverless cars, and even robots [in the torch relay]," said Tang Guohua, deputy director of the executive committee of the Guangdong Division of the 15th National Games.
After the torch relay, representatives from four cities will escort the flame to Guangzhou for a Convergence Ceremony at the Guangdong Olympic Center, linking the relay to the official opening.
Two hundred torchbearers will participate in the running in different parts of the relay of between 50 and 100 meters each on the route.
Torch relay route for China's 15th National Games revealed
John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Tuesday welcomed the white paper "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems" released by the State Council Information Office.
Lee said in a statement that he will fully support and implement the content and requirements of the white paper.
The white paper detailed how the fight for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is an unrelenting one. Lee said that since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the manipulation of anti-China agitators in Hong Kong and hostile external forces had long stalled legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR, creating destabilizing opportunities.
Today, while Hong Kong is making every effort to boost the economy, pursue development, undertake construction and improve people's livelihood, it must be remembered that national security risks still exist among us and can arise all of a sudden, he added.
The white paper stated that the central government has the fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong. Lee expressed support and gratefulness for the central government's decisive act at a critical moment in Hong Kong, formulating the national security law in Hong Kong at the state level for the HKSAR's promulgation and implementation locally.
The national security law in Hong Kong ended the state of defenselessness regarding national security that had persisted for over two decades since Hong Kong's return, and ended the "black-clad violence" prevailing in Hong Kong at the time, Lee said, adding that the HKSAR government has been combating acts and activities endangering national security with full force and in accordance with the law, and as a result, order returned to the community.
The white paper illustrated the HKSAR's achievements in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security. Lee said that the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance function as an integral whole to build a solid shield for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, effectively protecting the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law and providing a solid foundation for Hong Kong's security and development.
The white paper stated that Hong Kong is progressing from disorder to stability and prosperity. Lee said that under the auspices of the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong society is stable and prosperous, the normal lives and development of the people of Hong Kong are firmly guaranteed, and international rating agencies continue to give Hong Kong positive assessments.
The white paper laid down the practical requirements of creating high-standard security for the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems." Lee said that Hong Kong must work under the guidance of a holistic approach to national security, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, safeguarding of national security throughout the entire process of the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.
Lee said that security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. The HKSAR government will steadfastly safeguard national security and promote economic development and is committed to advancing the high-quality development of the cause of "one country, two systems" under the auspices of high-level security, and to achieving high-level security through high-quality development.
HKSAR chief executive welcomes white paper on Hong Kong's efforts in safeguarding national security
