Two Sessions 2020: Beijing will not be swayed over national security law for Hong Kong, China’s vice-premier tells delegates
- Decision was reached after taking into account the interests of the country and city, local deputy to legislature quotes Han Zheng as saying
- Law will only affect three groups – pro-independence activists, violent radicals and protesters seeking to derail economy, according to top official
Beijing’s determination to implement a new national security law for Hong Kong must not be underestimated, as the decision was reached after careful consideration of the interests of the country and city, Vice-Premier Han Zheng told local deputies to China’s legislature on Sunday.
Han’s remarks came amid growing concern both in Hong Kong and the international community over the move, and hours before police fired rounds of tear gas as thousands of residents took to the city’s streets in protest. The law, which would be passed without scrutiny by the local legislature, would allow mainland agencies to operate in the city as needed, and require the Hong Kong government to establish new institutions to safeguard national security.
Han, the state leader overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs, met the local delegation to the National People’s Congress [NPC] at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam vows ‘full support’ for national security law
“Don’t underestimate Beijing’s determination. When the decision is made, we will implement it till the end,” the delegation’s deputy convenor, Wong Yuk-shan, quoted the leader as saying. “Han stressed that the move was made after careful deliberation, taking into account the long-term interests of Hong Kong, and more importantly, of the state and the nation.”
State broadcaster CCTV reported Han as saying the law would target only a small faction of people who advocated Hong Kong independence and the “dark forces” behind them. The term is used by Beijing to refer to supposed overseas support for the anti-government movement.
According to sources from the meeting, Han said only three groups would be affected – pro-independence activists, violent radicals and protesters seeking to derail the city’s economy with a mentality of “if we burn, you burn with us”.
CCTV reported the vice-premier also offered assurances on the “one country, two systems” framework governing relations between the city and the central government, saying Beijing would fully implement the policy, as well as the principle of “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”, with a high degree of autonomy.