China stresses importance of safeguarding national security in Hong Kong

The director of Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, said in a speech marking an annual national security day that the city should “firmly uphold” the bottom line of national security in order to safeguard high quality development in Hong Kong. “To progress towards governance and prosperity, we must firmly uphold the bottom line of national security so as to ensure high quality development in Hong Kong,” said Xia.

In March, a new national security law, also known as article 23, was enacted that updates or introduces new laws prohibiting treason, sabotage, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage, with jail terms of up to life imprisonment. However, Xia sought to emphasize that the law poses no threat to investors, at a time when the city has faced Western criticism of a protracted crackdown on dissent, and has struggled economically and financially. “For the general public of Hong Kong and foreign investors, this law is the protector of their rights, freedoms, property and investment,” Xia said. “Investors from all over the world can come to Hong Kong to invest in new businesses bravely and without concerns,” he added. “Hong Kong remains the best place in the world to do business and make money and achieve your dreams.”

Some foreign governments including the United States and Britain, however, have criticized the new law as a fresh tool for authorities to clamp down on dissent. The legislation adds to another national security law China directly imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy protests. Beijing, however, says the laws are necessary to safeguard the city’s stability and prosperity. The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong said on Saturday that visitors to the city should “exercise increased caution” with the State Department updating its travel advisory given the new legislation. Canada also updated its advisory recently, saying people needed to “exercise a high degree of caution in Hong Kong due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws”. The security laws have so far been used to jail scores of leading Hong Kong democrats including Joshua Wong, while liberal media outlets and civil society groups have been shut down. More than 290 people have been arrested under the Beijing imposed national security law so far. Of these, 174 people and five companies have been charged, including prominent China critic and businessman Jimmy Lai — who is currently on trial and could face life imprisonment.