Hong Kong has achieved ‘soft landing’ with Article 23 law, top adviser says

Regina Ip, convenor of government’s key decision-making Executive Council, says current situation is ‘inflection point’ for city

Ip, who helped found Global Prosperity Summit, says event aimed at facilitating more exchanges between Hong Kong and rest of world, with roster of influential speakers invited

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Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, argues the current situation is an “inflection point” for the city. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 9:45pm, 23 Apr 2024Updated: 12:36am, 24 Apr 2024

Hong Kong has achieved a “soft landing” with the enactment of its domestic national security law, a top government adviser has said, pointing to the “relatively gentle” reaction from the international and local community to the legislation.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, argued the current situation was an “inflection point” for the city and provided an ideal atmosphere for her inaugural Global Prosperity Summit aimed at facilitating more exchanges between the city and the rest of the world, slated for next month.

“It has already been one month since the legislation of Article 23. We have achieved a soft landing,” she said, referring to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. “In this month, you can see no matter if it is foreign businesses or governments, or even local people, they are not really concerned about it. The reaction is relatively gentle.”

The current period was a “good inflection point” for members of the public to consider how they could do more for the city, as well as maximise Hong Kong’s value as an intermediary and a platform for exchanges and communication.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, passed swiftly by the city’s legislature in March, covers 39 offences divided into five categories: treason; insurrection, incitement to mutiny and disaffection and acts with seditious intention; sabotage; external interference endangering national security; and theft of state secrets and espionage.