National security law in Hong Kong unlikely any time soon despite Beijing’s renewed calls, say political veterans

Pro-establishment heavyweights say controversial Article 23 legislation is necessary but implementation will not be possible for years

Wang Zhenmin, former legal chief of central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, had said it was essential for city to put legislation on agenda

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Hong Kong has been rocked by more than six months of social unrest. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:48pm, 22 Dec 2019Updated: 5:55pm, 22 May 2020

The Hong Kong government will not have the political energy to legislate the controversial national security law in the next few years despite renewed calls from Beijing, according to two pro-establishment heavyweights.

Beijing loyalists Lau Siu-kai and Tam Yiu-chung voiced their thoughts on Sunday after Wang Zhenmin, former legal chief of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said the city must not delay the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

“I think the central government doesn’t really believe the Hong Kong government under the leadership of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will be able to finish the legislation of Article 23 in two or three years,” Lau, vice-chairman of semi-official think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the Post.

“The legislation may not necessarily be the Hong Kong government’s highest priority because of the Legislative Council election next year. The push for legislation is likely to give an edge to the pan-democrats in the election.”

Lau Siu-kai believes Beijing never relied on the Hong Kong government solely to protect national security. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

On Saturday, Wang, director of Tsinghua University’s Centre for Hong Kong and Macau Research and a central government adviser, told a seminar in Beijing it was now essential for the city to put the legislation on the agenda.