NPC decision understanding urged

June 2, 2020

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:
I hope people in Hong Kong will first understand why we have now arrived at this situation that the National People's Congress has to act in order to protect national security and also by that doing to protect Hong Kong. 

Now as far as the legal principles and the content of the law, since we do not have - I have not seen - any draft legislation yet, I really could not comment on the details, except to highlight to you that there were five fundamental principles to be adopted by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in drafting the legislation. 

One is of course, to firmly safeguard national security. 

Secondly is to better, the whole purpose is to better the system of “one country, two systems”. So whatever is in the “one country, two systems” that has been valued by Hong Kong, certainly it will be upheld. 

The third principle is to govern Hong Kong in strict accordance with the law. So there should be no worry that there will be illegal acts by certain people in Hong Kong. 

And fourthly is to resist external interference in Hong Kong affairs. 

Finally - which is the most important point in my view and hence I have quoted it extensively in one of my press releases or statements - is to uphold the legal rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people. 

And I noticed that in addition to these five basic principles, in a statement issued by the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office, I think it's on May 29, they said that the enactment will not change the high degree of autonomy and will have no impact on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s judicial independence, including that of final adjudication. I find these principles and clarifications very reassuring, but of course, one has to wait for the draft legislation before you will be truly convinced that the law has complied with each and every of those principles.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today urged Hong Kong people to understand the rationale behind the decision by the National People’s Congress (NPC) on the national security legislation in the city.

Mrs Lam made the appeal ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning.

“I hope people in Hong Kong will first understand why we have now arrived at this situation that the NPC has to act in order to protect national security and also by that doing to protect Hong Kong.”

She noted that the NPC Standing Committee will adopt five fundamental principles in drafting the legislation, including to firmly safeguard national security.

“Secondly is to better, the whole purpose is to better the system of ‘one country, two systems’. So whatever is in the ‘one country, two systems’ that has been valued by Hong Kong, certainly it will be upheld.

“The third principle is to govern Hong Kong in strict accordance with the law. So there should be no worry that there will be illegal acts by certain people in Hong Kong.

“And fourthly is to resist external interference in Hong Kong affairs.

“Finally - which is the most important point in my view and hence I have quoted it extensively in one of my press releases or statements - is to uphold the legal rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people.”

Mrs Lam also cited a Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office statement that said the legislation’s enactment will not change the high degree of autonomy and will have no impact on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's judicial independence, including that of final adjudication.

“I find these principles and clarifications very reassuring, but of course, one has to wait for the draft legislation before you will be truly convinced that the law has complied with each and every of those principles.”