Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng has welcomed the passage of The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The national security law was passed today by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and was included in Annex III of the Basic Law to be promulgated and implemented in the Hong Kong SAR.

Ms Cheng said in a statement that the national security law is targeted at the criminal acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.

The law provides clear rules and legal basis for preventing, curbing and punishing those who breach the law to endanger national security, and is conducive to safeguarding national security, she added.

The national security law specifies that the Hong Kong SAR should observe the important principles of the rule of law, including the presumption of innocence, the rights of defence and the rule against double jeopardy.

It also clearly states that the Hong Kong SAR should protect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents in accordance with law.

Ms Cheng said she would continue to lead the Department of Justice to provide full support for and discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security in Hong Kong.

The justice chief also noted that being one of the members of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security to be chaired by the Chief Executive, she is committed to assisting in formulating policies and implementing the relevant legal system.

A dedicated unit of the department has been established to handle prosecutions and related legal matters on national security in accordance with law, she added.