The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is inaugurated in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was inaugurated here on Wednesday.
A plaque bearing name of the new office was jointly unveiled at an opening ceremony by Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, both vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR, Luo Huining, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Zheng Yanxiong, director of the newly established national security office.
The office for safeguarding national security is "the envoy of Hong Kong's security" and "the gatekeeper of national security," Luo, also the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said when addressing the ceremony.
Luo also serves as the national security adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR.
The national security office in Hong Kong will perform its mandate in strict compliance with the law and be subject to supervision in accordance with the law, and will not infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of any individual or organization, Luo said.
The office was established in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, which was adopted by China's top legislature and promulgated in the HKSAR on June 30.
According to the national security law, the office analyzes and assesses developments related to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, provides opinions and makes proposals on major strategies and important policies, and oversees, guides, coordinates with and supports the HKSAR in assuming the duties for safeguarding national security.
The office also collects and analyzes intelligence and information about national security and handles cases on offenses endangering national security.
While authorizing the HKSAR to exercise jurisdiction over most of the cases related to national security, the central government exercises jurisdiction over a very small number of cases so as to uphold the bottom line of safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, Luo said.
Safeguarding national security is essentially within the purview of the central government, which has both the power and the responsibility to take all necessary measures to safeguard national security, he said.
The promulgation and implementation of the national security law is "the turning point for Hong Kong from turmoil to stability," Luo added.
Acts and activities endangering national security are bound to be effectively prevented, curbed and punished so that the practice of "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong will not be distorted and will continue to be brimming with dynamism, he said.
Zheng Yanxiong, director of the national security office in Hong Kong, said in his speech that the office will resolutely fulfil its mandate to safeguard national security and exercise relevant powers in accordance with the law.
Welcoming support from all sectors in Hong Kong for the office, Zheng called for joint efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, promote the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems," and ensure the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
