Hong Kong must ‘decisively’ introduce Article 23 security law to end all ‘causes of chaos’: Beijing’s top intelligence agency

Ministry of State Security also accuses foreign politicians of having double standards by opposing coming national security law

Intelligence agency warns ‘evil nature of anti-China and anti-Hong Kong forces, which have been entrenched in Hong Kong for a long time, is hard to change’

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China’s top legislature has also said it will closely monitor and fully support Hong Kong in its legislative efforts regarding the security law. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 3:39pm, 4 Mar 2024Updated: 8:48pm, 4 Mar 2024

Hong Kong can only eradicate all “causes of chaos” and get back on the right track if it “decisively” finalises its domestic national security legislation, Beijing’s top intelligence agency has said.

The Ministry of State Security on Monday also accused foreign politicians of having double standards by opposing the coming law, warning that no other countries had the right to interfere in China’s internal affairs.

Hong Kong last Wednesday wrapped up its one-month consultation for the legislation, which is required under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.

The legislation will complement the national security law that Beijing imposed in 2020, outlawing five new types of offences – treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, and theft of state secrets and espionage.

The ministry took to WeChat on Monday and wrote that despite the introduction of the Beijing-decreed law, there were still some “worms” looking for opportunities to create trouble in Hong Kong.