Decision to Safeguard Hong Kong’s Long-term Prosperity and Stability
国安立法保持香港长期繁荣稳定
Chinese Ambassador Qin Jian to Somalia
驻索马里大使覃俭
28 June 2020
2020年6月28日
The National People’s Congress (NPC) of China approved Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security, which has been warmly supported by the Chinese people, Hong Kong compatriots included. More than 3 million Hong Kong people during 8 days signed their names in support of the Decision.
中国全国人大通过了《关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全法律制度和执行机制的决定》，获得包括香港同胞在内的中国人民的热烈拥护。8天内，超过300万香港市民签名支持这项重要决定。
National security is a national priority. No country sits back and watches its territory remains “undefended” for a long time. The National Security Legislation strengthens Hong Kong residents’ awareness of and responsibility for national security is the fundamental and long-term policies to effectively safeguard national security and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. In recent years, activities that endanger national security have become increasingly serious in Hong Kong, and external forces have got their hands deeper in Hong Kong affairs, seriously challenging the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle, seriously affecting China’s national security and development interests, and seriously undermining the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. In the turbulence over the amendment bill since last year, Hong Kong independence elements and perpetrators of violence have run rampant, abetting, inciting and enticing young students to participate in illegal and criminal activities endangering national security and serving as their political fuel. Acts of violence and terrorism have escalated. Some external forces have been intervening more and more in Hong Kong affairs to support the turbulence, which has seriously damaged China’s national sovereignty, security and dignity.
国家安全是一个国家的头等大事。没有哪一个国家会坐视自己的领土长期处于安全“不设防”状态。实行国家安全立法，强化香港居民的国家安全意识和责任，是有效维护国家安全、保持香港长期繁荣稳定的根本和长远之策。近年来，危害国家的安全的活动在香港愈演愈烈，外部势力更深插手香港事务，严重挑战了“一国两制”原则的底线，对中国国家安全、发展利益造成严重影响，香港居民的权利、自由和香港繁荣稳定受到严重破坏。在去年以来的“修例风波”中，“港独”分子和激进分裂势力日益猖獗，教唆、煽动和引诱青年学生参与危害国家安全的违法犯罪活动中，充当他们“政治燃料”，暴力恐怖活动不断升级。一些外部势力不断加大干预香港事务，为暴乱活动撑腰打气，严重损害了中国国家主权、安全和尊严。
The national security law belongs to the legislative power of all countries in the world, unitary and federal alike. All rights and freedoms have limits and must be exercised within the limits prescribed by law. Rights and obligations are relative, and no one has the absolute rights not to perform their obligations. To safeguard national security is an essential part of the one country, two systems principle. The Basic Law of Hong Kong not only grants Hong Kong residents more extensive rights and freedoms, but also clearly stipulates their responsibilities and obligations to safeguard national security, which is the prerequisite for respecting and protecting human rights. Without national security, there will be neither lasting peace and stability for China nor long-term prosperity and stability for Hong Kong. Only when national security is guaranteed can Hong Kong enjoy long-term prosperity and stability. The purpose of maintaining National Security Legislation in Hong Kong is to effectively prevent, deter and punish the few illegal and criminal acts that endanger national security. This will make the rule of law in Hong Kong more sound and the society more stable, so as to better protect the lives, property, rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents.
无论是实行单一制还是联邦制，国家安全法属于国家的立法权。任何权利和自由都有限度的，都必须在法律规定的界限内行使。权利和义务是相对的，没有人享有不履行自己的义务的绝对权利。维护国家安全是“一国两制”的重要组成部分。香港基本法赋予香港居民更广泛的权利和自由，也明确规定了香港居民维护国家安全的责任和义务，这是尊重和保障人权的前提。没有国家安全，就谈不上中国的长治久安，更谈不上香港的长期繁荣稳定。国家安全得到保障，香港才能长期繁荣稳定。香港维持国家安全立法的目的，是为了有效防范、制止和惩治极少数危害国家安全的违法犯罪行为，这将使香港的法治更健全、社会更稳定，这样才能更好地保障香港居民的生命财产和权利自由。
Safeguarding national security is the prerequisite for a country’s survival and development, and the most core and basic requirement for safeguarding national sovereignty. It is an internal affair of China for the Chinese government to take necessary measures to safeguard national security in the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong. It conforms to China’s consistent policy towards Hong Kong and no foreign country has the right to interfere. The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement the principle of one country, two systems and to oppose any foreign meddling in Hong Kong affairs. Only when laws are fully implemented and enforced can we effectively prevent, deter and punish acts and activities endangering national security, such as splitting the country, subverting state power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, and intervening in Hong Kong affairs by external forces, so as to provide a solid institutional and legal guarantee for Hong Kong’s social prosperity and stability.
维护国家安全是一个国家生存和发展的前提，是维护国家主权最核心、最基本的要求。中国依照国家宪法和香港基本法，采取必要措施维护香港特别行政区的国家安全，是中国的内政，符合中国对香港的一贯方针政策，任何外国都无权干涉。中国政府维护国家主权、安全和发展利益的决心是坚定不移的，贯彻“一国两制”方针的决心是坚定不移的，反对外来势力干涉香港事务的决心是坚定不移的。只有当法律完备、执行到位，才能有效地防范、制止和惩治分裂国家、颠覆国家政权、组织实施恐怖活动、外部势力干预香港事务等危害国家安全的行为和活动，为保障香港社会的繁荣和稳定提供坚实的制度、法律保障。
Safeguarding national security is consistent with protecting the interests of foreign investors. China’s NPC and its Standing Committee to approve the National Security Legislation in HKSAR will help to restore the order in Hong Kong, maintain the stability and a good business environment in Hong Kong, consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s international financial, trade and shipping center status, further enhance the confidence of foreign investors in Hong Kong. Since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has enjoyed fiscal independence, free trade, self-issued currency and free flow of capital. Its status as a free port and a separate customs territory has been safeguarded and consolidated. The legislation on Hong Kong National Security is targeted at a narrow category of acts that seriously jeopardize national security. The capitalist system, the high degree of autonomy and the legal system in Hong Kong will stay unchanged and be upheld unswervingly, and the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors will continue to be effectively protected. We oppose the attempts of some countries to impose so-called sanctions on Hong Kong, which violates international law and basic norms governing international relations. We hope that they will pay more attention to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
维护国家安全与保护外国投资者的利益是一致的。全国人大及其常委会批准在香港特别行政区国家安全立法，将有助恢复香港秩序，维护香港稳定和良好的商业环境，有助于巩固和提升香港国际金融、贸易和航运中心的地位，进一步增强外来投资者对香港的信心。香港自回归祖国以来，享有财政独立、贸易自由、自行发行货币和资本自由流动，作为自由港和单独关税区的地位得到保障和巩固。香港国安立法，是针对极小数严重危害国家安全的行为。香港的资本主义制度不会变，高度自治不会变，法律制度不会变，外国投资者的合法权益将继续得到有效保护。我们反对有关国家对香港实施所谓的制裁，这违反了国际法和国际关系基本准则，损人不利己，希望他们多关心香港的繁荣稳定。
We are very confident that with the concerted efforts of the HKSAR government and Hong Kong people and the strong backing of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, Hong Kong will enjoy even greater development and stability and a better tomorrow.
我们坚信，在香港特别行政区政府和香港人民的共同努力下，有14亿中国人民做坚强后盾，香港将越来越发展、越来越稳定、明天将更加美好！