National Security Legislation: Hongkong Must Not Be a Weak Link of China’s National Security
国家安全立法：香港不能成为国家安全的短板
By Chinese Ambassador Sun Gongyi for the Mainstream Media in Mauritius
驻毛里求斯大使孙功谊在毛主流媒体《快报》发表署名文章
4 June 2020
2020年6月4日
On the 28th of May 2020, the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) approved the “Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security”. This is an absolutely normal legislation enforced by a sovereign country regarding its own national security. However, politicians and old colonialists in certain countries jumped inexplicably to intervene and made irresponsible remarks, which are incredible and unacceptable.
5月28日，中国第十三届全国人民代表大会第三次会议通过了《全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行制度的决定》。这完全是一个主权国家在自己的领土上行使维护国家安全的正常法律行动，但某些国家的一些政客和旧殖民主义者却莫名其妙地跳出来对此横加干涉、说三道四，令人匪夷所思。
It is the responsibility of the NPC to make such legislative decisions based on the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Basic Law. This decision has a solid legal basis and the highest legal effect.
全国人大依据宪法和基本法有关规定作出立法决定，是全国人大的责任所在，具有坚实的法律基础和最高法律效力。
National Security is the basic prerequisite for the survival and development of a country, and it is a matter of core interest. In any country, no matter if it is a unitary or a federal one, only the State national legislation has the legislative power on issues regarding national security. This is the basic theory and principle of national sovereignty and a common practice shared by all countries around the globe. After regaining sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, China set the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR), implemented the “One Country Two Systems” principle and established the Hong Kong SAR’s Basic Law. Article 23 of the Basic Law gives the Hong Kong SAR’s government authority to legislate on its own in order to prohibit seven kinds of acts that can endanger national security. This is a special arrangement made pursuant to “One Country Two Systems” principle. It does not change the fact that only the Central Authority has legislative power over issues regarding national security. The NPC and its Standing Committee have authority and responsibility to fulfill their constitutional duty of safeguarding national security based on the actual situation and needs of the Hong Kong SAR. Such constitutional responsibility includes legislation on national security with regard to Hong Kong SAR. It also implies to continue to build relevant legal framework and enforcement mechanisms. According to Article 31 of the Constitution, “The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People’s Congress in the light of the specific conditions.” The decision of the NPC is a way to prescribe the system implemented in the HKSAR by law. Once adopted, this decision will have the supreme authority and legal effect.
国家安全是国家生存发展的基本前提，关乎国家核心利益。世界上任何一个国家，不论是单一制还是联邦制，国家安全立法都是国家立法权，属于主权权力。这是基本的国家主权理论和原则，也是世界各国的通例。1997年中国收回香港主权，在香港设立特别行政区，实行“一国两制”，并制定了香港特别行政区基本法，其中第23条规定，香港特区自行立法禁止七类危害国家安全的行为，这一规定就是通常所说的23条立法。这是“一国两制”下的特殊安排，不改变国家安全立法属于中央事权的属性，全国人大及其常委会有权力也有责任依据香港特区的实际情况和需要继续履行维护国家安全的宪制责任，包括制定与香港特区相关的维护国家安全的法律，继续构建有关法律制度和执行机制。中国宪法第31条规定：“在特别行政区内实行的制度按照具体情况由全国人民代表大会以法律规定”。全国人大作出决定是以法律规定在香港特区实行的制度的一种方式，具有最高的权威和法律效力。
The decision made by the NPC is timely, reasonable and necessary. The NPC is compelled to make such decision by the turn of events with its legislative power and responsibility.
从国家层面建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制及时必要、刻不容缓。
Maintaining national security is an essential part of the “one country, two systems” principle. Without national security, there will be neither long-lasting peace and stability for China, nor long-term prosperity and stability for Hong Kong. The “one country, two systems” principle will also lose its foundation. Since Hong Kong’s return to China, the Chinese government has firmly implemented the “One country, two systems” principle and the “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” policy. It has granted a high degree of autonomy to Hong Kong. This practice has achieved unprecedented success but has also faced new situations, new problems and new challenges.
维护国家安全是“一国两制”的核心要义，没有国家安全，就没有国家的长治久安和香港的长期繁荣稳定，“一国两制”就失去了赖以生存的基础。香港回归以来，国家坚定贯彻“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针，“一国两制”实践在香港取得了前所未有的成功，同时也遇到了一些新情况新问题，面临新的风险和挑战。
Some illegal organizations and rioters in Hong Kong have been colluding with external forces for a long time to carry out acts of secession, subversion, infiltration and sabotage against China mainland’s government. These activities have intensified lately, especially following last year’s events over the amendment bill. Pro-independence elements and radical localists have run rampant. With the support and funding of foreign intelligence agencies and external anti-China forces, acts of violence and terrorism in Hong Kong have escalated, causing Hong Kong society to fall into chaos. External forces have got their hands deeper in Hong Kong affairs. The situation seriously threatens China’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Government power and public security in Hong Kong SAR have been endangered and the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle has been seriously challenged. The basic rights of the Hong Kong residents (such as right of subsistence and right of development) as well as the economic interests of the foreign investors have been infringed. It has exposed a notable legal gap and lack of work regarding safeguarding national security and ensuring citizens’ peaceful life in the Hong Kong SAR.
香港的一些非法组织和乱港分子长期勾结外部势力对内地进行各种分裂、颠覆、渗透、破坏活动，特别是去年修例风波以来，“港独”和本土激进分离势力活动日益猖獗，在外国情报机构和反华势力的支持资助下，暴力恐怖活动不断升级，使香港社会陷入混乱。外部势力深度干预香港事务，严重威胁中国国家主权、统一和领土完整，严重危害特区政权安全和公共安全，严重挑战“一国两制”原则底线，也使香港居民的生存权、发展权这些基本人权和外国投资者的经济利益受到侵害，充分暴露了香港特区在维护国家安全、确保香港居民安居乐业方面存在的明显法律漏洞和工作缺失。
For Hong Kong SAR, safeguarding national security is a compulsory question to be answered in order to maintain the “one country, two systems” principle, not an optional one. Without national security, there will be no long-term stability and prosperity for Hong Kong. As National security in the Hong Kong SAR faces a real threat and gets seriously undermined, and it becomes clearer that the SAR government can hardly complete the required legislation by itself, the NPC has no choice but to come forward and act decisively at the State level to establish and improve a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong. Under the current circumstances, this must be done and done quickly to provide a fundamental guarantee for the long-term and smooth implementation of “one country, two systems”.
没有国家安全，就没有国家的长治久安和香港的长期繁荣稳定。对香港特区来说，维护国家安全是“一国两制”的应有之意，是“必答题”不是“选择题”、。在香港特区国家安全受到现实威胁和严重损害、特区政府难以自行完成维护国家安全立法的情况下，采取果断措施，从国家层面建立健全香港特区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制，是形势所迫，也是确保“一国两制”行稳致远的治本之策，势在必行、刻不容缓。
The NPC decision is aimed at a narrow category of acts that seriously put national security at risk. It does not affect the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong or the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong residents.
中国全国人大的决定针对的只是极少数严重危害国家安全的行为，不影响特区高度自治和香港居民的权利自由。
It is made precisely for Hong Kong residents to better enjoy and exercise their statutory rights and freedoms. The NPC decision stipulates what kind of actions gravely endangering national security, which includes secession of the country, subversion of State power, organizing and committing acts of terrorism, and foreign interference in the Hong Kong SAR affairs. It aims to deter and punish the few “Hong Kong pro-independence” elements and perpetrators of violence seeking to endanger national security. It will also protect the vast majority of Hong Kong citizens who abide by the law.
全国人大决定不会影响特区高度自治，恰恰是为了让广大香港市民更好地享有和行使法定的各项权利和自由。《决定》规定的分裂国家、颠覆国家政权、组织实施恐怖活动等严重危害国家安全的行为和外国干预香港特区事务的活动，惩治的是极少数严重危害国家安全的“港独”分子和暴力分子，保护的是遵纪守法的绝大多数香港市民。
Since Hong Kong’s return to China, its residents have enjoyed more extensive rights and freedoms than at any time during the colonial period, this is a universally recognized fact. Yet, rights and freedoms are not unlimited and people must respect laws when exercising them.
回归以来，香港居民的各项权利和自由依法得到了充分保障，而且享有比港英时期更广泛的权利和自由，这是举世公认的事实。但任何权利和自由都不是绝对的，必须在法律规定的范围内行使。
Maintaining Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity is now the most common will of Hong Kong residents and their common interest. Since Hong Kong has won a major fight against COVID-19, the society is now desperately hoping that the city will be united again and will make a fresh start. This is the people will, and Hong Kong’s strength to move forward. Without a harmonious and stable environment, how can people live in peace and enjoy their work? How can we protect the legal rights and freedoms of the overwhelming majority of the Hong Kong residents? Recently, many business leaders in Hong Kong publicly expressed their support to the NPC’s decision, as they believe it will help to restore order in the investment and business environment as well as in the people’s life. The priorities now are to keep jobs, to protect people’s livelihoods, to boost economy, and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international financial center. The number of Hong Kong residents who sign the petition supporting the national security legislation has reached over 3 million as of the 2nd of June 2020, and this number keeps growing.
保持繁荣稳定是当前香港社会的最大共识，也是香港市民的共同利益所在。最近在香港抗击新冠疫情取得显著成效后，社会各界迫切期望香港能够团结起来再出发，这是民心所向，是香港继续前行的力量。试问，没有和谐稳定的环境，怎会有安居乐业的家园？怎么保障绝大多数香港市民的合法权利和自由？多位香港商界领袖纷纷公开发声拥护全国人大决定，认为此举可有效缔造香港安定有序的投资、营商和社会环境，指出香港的当务之急是保就业、护民生、振兴经济，巩固香港的国际金融中心地位。截至6月2日就已有超300万香港各界民众自发签名支持全国人大通过上述决定。
The Chinese government remains firmly determined to implement accurately the “one country, two systems” principle. It is also firmly committed to oppose any foreign interferences in Hong Kong affairs.
中国政府全面准确贯彻“一国两制”方针的决心坚定不移，反对任何外部势力干涉香港事务的决心坚定不移。
Facts have proven and will continue to prove that the “one country, two systems” principle is a workable solution supported by people. Two principles guide the Chinese government’s implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle. First, the policy will stay unchanged and be maintained unswervingly. Second, the policy will be entirety applied, without being deformed or distorted. Safeguarding national security serves not only the fundamental interests of Hong Kong’s society but also helps to protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign institutions and personnel in Hong Kong.
实践已经证明并将继续证明，“一国两制”是完全行得通、办得到、得人心的。中国政府贯彻“一国两制”坚持两点，一是确保“一国两制”方针不会变、不动摇，二是确保“一国两制”实践不变形、不走样。维护国家安全不仅符合香港社会的根本利益，也有助于保护各国在港机构和人员的合法权益。
No country in the world would ignore behaviors that endanger its national security. Many western countries including the US and the UK enacted countless laws to safeguard national security. Especially after the 9/11 attacks, the US enacted the “Patriot Act” and the “CLOUD Act”; numbers of cases have already been formed in judicial practice. We firmly oppose certain countries’ “double standards” on the matter of safeguarding national security: on the one hand, they spare no efforts to create their own National security net, and on the other hand, they try by all means to drill holes on China’s national security net.
放眼世界，没有哪个国家会对危害国家安全的行为坐视不理、放任不管。美国、英国等西方国家制定的维护国家安全的法律汗牛充栋，名目繁多。特别是“9.11事件”后，美国制定了人们熟知的《爱国者法案》《云法案》等，并且已在司法实践中形成了大量案例。在维护国家安全的问题上，我们坚决反对个别国家搞“双重标准”，在自己国家竭力打造“铜墙铁壁”的国家安全网，却在中国的国家安全网上“凿洞破墙”。
Hong Kong is a special administration region of China, and is under the overall jurisdiction of the Chinese central government. The so called “Governor of Hong Kong” representing evil colonialism has long become history. The national security legislation in Hong Kong is purely the concern of China’s internal affairs, and China does not allow any external interference. The Chinese government must not and will not allow Hong Kong to be a weak link of China’s national security.
香港现在是中国的一个特别行政区，是直辖于中国中央人民政府的一个地方行政区域。曾经在香港设立的港督，这个代表殖民主义罪恶的名字已永远成为历史。香港特区维护国家安全立法的问题纯属中国内政，中国政府绝不容许香港成为中国国家安全的短板，也绝不允许外部政治势力干涉香港事务。