All around the world, steady technological advancement and rising geopolitical tensions have led many nations to update their national security laws or pass new ones in response to potential threats.
Similarly in Hong Kong, the purpose of the Basic Law Article 23 legislation is to enhance relevant laws for safeguarding national security. The Government’s plan to implement this legislation will no doubt help to bring to an end the issues that have dogged the city for over two decades.
The law will also serve to strengthen the business environment as Hong Kong continues to chase economic recovery. Together with other major business chambers in Hong Kong, HKGCC announced its support of the public consultation to expedite the legislation in order to protect Hong Kong’s autonomy under the governing principle of “one country, two systems.”
Last month, Secretary for Justice Paul T K Lam and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung addressed a Town Hall Forum at the Chamber, which included representatives of international chambers in Hong Kong, to shed light on the implementation and consultation of Article 23 Legislation and answer questions.
Safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, safety and development interests, and protecting civic rights and freedoms are important legislative principles. As per the rule of law, any act and activity endangering national security shall be proactively prevented, suppressed and punished. Since 2003, when Article 23 legislation was withdrawn, Hong Kong’s social order has faced some disruptions, especially in 2019, which did a lot of damage to investment sentiment in the city.
Explaining the law, Chief Executive John Lee pointed out that stability and prosperity go hand in hand. To that end, the legislation will tackle the issues that have troubled Hong Kong and address all security concerns, while protecting civic rights and freedoms. It is also important to remember that the law is in accordance with international standards, as applied to Hong Kong.
To dispel any misinformation and proactively garner support, the Government plans to launch campaigns to disseminate the message and explain the legislation to the public, international chambers and consulates in Hong Kong. The business community strongly believes that the new legislation will help to foster stability and safeguard our business environment, especially SMEs that are working hard to achieve growth in the face of challenges.
As the geopolitical situation around the globe becomes increasingly complex, Article 23 of the Basic Law will no doubt give Hong Kong – one of the freest economies in the world – a solid legal foundation that protects the interests of our businesses, while we pursue economic recovery, development and prosperity.
Betty Yuen
chairman@chamber.org.hk