China’s Communist Party elite wrap up meeting with pledge to safeguard national security in Hong Kong

Communique issued at end of four-day session says party will ‘establish a sound legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security’ in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

Move aims to ‘safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability’, it says

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The plenum session of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee ended on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:00am, 1 Nov 2019Updated: 10:49am, 1 Nov 2019

Chinese Communist Party leaders ended their four-day plenary meeting in Beijing on Thursday by issuing a communique that revealed little in the way of new policy initiatives but included a pledge on Hong Kong to safeguard national security through legal means.

“‘One country, two systems’ is an important system of the party … to achieve peaceful reunification of the motherland,” the document issued by the fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee said.

“[We must] strictly govern the Hong Kong special administrative region and the Macau special administrative region in strict accordance with the constitution and the Basic Law, and safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau.

“[We must] establish a sound legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the special administrative regions,” it said, without elaborating.

The communique included a pledge to safeguard national security through legal means. Photo: Xinhua

The references to a legal system and mechanism for national security come after more than four months of protests in Hong Kong triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill and calls for the introduction of local legislation on national security.