The State Council, on Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s nomination, approved the appointment of Chief Executive's Office Director Chan Kwok-ki as Secretary General of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today.

The appointment was made according to Article 13(2) of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Mr Chan took the oath of office this afternoon.

Mrs Lam said Mr Chan has had a distinguished performance in leading the Chief Executive's Office, adding that he is capable of taking up the new post in addition to his existing post to lead the secretariat to support the committee to fulfil its crucial responsibility to safeguard national security.

The national security law in Hong Kong stipulated that a committee chaired by the Chief Executive will be established to take up national security affairs and bear the major responsibility for safeguarding national security and it will be under the supervision of and be accountable to the Central People's Government.

Its members will include the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, Secretary for Justice, Secretary for Security, Commissioner of Police, the head of the department for safeguarding national security of Police established under Article 16 of the national security law in Hong Kong, the Director of Immigration, Commissioner of Customs & Excise and Chief Executive's Office Director. The secretariat under the committee is to be headed by the Secretary General.

The purposes of the national security law in Hong Kong are to prevent, suppress and punish crimes, namely secession, subversion of state power, organisation and perpetration of terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security; maintain Hong Kong SAR’s prosperity and stability; and protect Hong Kong SAR residents’ lawful rights and interests.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will spare no effort in enforcing the law to achieve the legislative objectives, and, in doing so, better the "one country, two systems" institutional system for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.