【Depth of the Time】Six people in Hong Kong talk about the implementation of the National Security Law this year
[Global Times reporter Zhao Juehui and Hu Yuwei] Editor's note: Several "Hong Kong independence" organizations announced their dissolution, and core members quickly "jumped" to clear the relationship; the "yellow economic circle" that supported the "black storm" began to collapse, and many "yellow shops" "Clean up the "yellow" slogans in the store, and "cut the seats" one after another...These are the scenes from June 30 last year.
On this day, Hong Kong’s National Security Law was formally implemented, and its deterrent effect on “turbulent Hong Kong” and “black violent” elements has begun to emerge, and many Hong Kong people are looking forward to a “restart”.
One year later, as people initially expected, the National Security Law has indeed brought changes to Hong Kong. In the words of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam, it is a "fundamentally positive development."
This is also the actual feeling of many Hong Kong people.
Recently, a reporter from "Global Times" interviewed 6 people in Hong Kong.
They come from all walks of life, and they all have a deep understanding of the significant impact of the National Security Law on Hong Kong society.
Police: After "there are laws to follow", confidence in law enforcement has greatly increased
Hong Kong Police Officer Chen Sir: I am a police officer who has worked on the front line for more than 20 years. This year, our law enforcement work has changed a lot.
The laws of Hong Kong are closely related to the British common law. Although it respects the rights of citizens, it has defects in some places.
For example, regulations on public activities are relatively loose, which makes it easy for some people to "take advantage of" in the name of religious and academic activities. Although the police know that they are "wolves in sheep's clothing", they must be based on the law, so law enforcement is difficult to do. .
The police force is the last line of defense in maintaining Hong Kong's law and order.
During the "Regulation Amendment Disturbance", some people kept attacking us and discrediting our law enforcement actions.
In this case, the police paid a lot but it was useless.
Sometimes, we even ask questions: How long should we resist on the front line?
During the "dark violence" period, I regularly talk to my colleagues and subordinates to take care of their psychological changes.
At that time, some people continued to use propaganda to crack down on police's confidence in law enforcement, and some colleagues' morale was relatively low.
Everyone is on the front line together every day, but they are very clear in their hearts: after today's work is over, tomorrow, everything will be done again.
At the same time, I also want to pay attention to the safety of my colleagues.
In the second half of 2019, when we get off work, we will have to take a taxi with several people and carry truncheons with us.
We will also worry about the safety of our family. I was afraid to visit my parents for more than half a year for fear of being targeted.
When my child registered his parent occupation at school, I filled in as a civil servant, and I didn't dare to state that I was a police officer.
During that time, the work of the police force was very difficult and hard.
It can be said that the Hong Kong police are waiting for the central government to take action.
We deeply feel that if there is no national security law, there is no way to stop the "black violence."
Seeing colleagues in charge of national security arrest Dai Yaoting, Li Zhiying and others, everyone believes that the National Security Law is more than just talking.
These measures were beyond our imagination before.
The emergence of the National Security Law has greatly increased the confidence of the police force. Finally, there is a law to follow when enforcing the law. I no longer have to worry about the safety of my colleagues.
In the past, although we knew that we were Chinese, we only thought of Hong Kong in the law enforcement process.
After the National Security Law was promulgated, the Hong Kong police became more aware of their responsibility to maintain "one country, two systems", and at the same time made us more trust in the central government and the country.
Reporter: New trends in public opinion have emerged
Hong Kong reporter Lin Rui (pseudonym): In the early days of the National Security Act, some Hong Kong media professionals felt a little uncomfortable.
Because in their inherent and dualistic ideology, it is unreasonable for the central government to take the initiative to formulate the National Security Law.
When this kind of stance takes precedence, many people do not have a specific understanding of the content of the National Security Law.
But as more and more things happened, some reporters and editors realized the importance of the National Security Law and began to accept its existence.
In the past, some people believed that freedom of speech was absolute, but now they also understand that the media is responsible for their speech.
After the promulgation of the National Security Law, many media are also adjusting the wording of reports. For example, some media initially used the expression "Wuhan pneumonia", and later changed it to new coronary pneumonia; at the beginning, it used "returning to send", and later it was written as "anti-revision". example".
This change is subtle, and it shows that the National Security Law has set some rules behind it.
The national security law is what Hong Kong needs, but some media professionals will amplify the "panic" at first, and always feel that there is a knife on their neck.
Some things need time to verify, at least so far, some people imagined things have not happened.
The content of media reports is also changing. In the past, positive reports about the Chinese Communist Party and patriotism would not appear in the media. Now, the situation is different, and new trends in public opinion have emerged.
We reporters used to only pay attention to the laws of Hong Kong. Now we have to understand the constitution and the rules of procedure of the National People's Congress. We have to study the common law of Hong Kong that is compatible with "one country, two systems."
We have to assume the role of "translators" and constantly explain to readers what is returning to the original intention of "one country, two systems", and make it clear that common law is not static, and Hong Kong's common law is also different from British common law.
In the past, topics such as "one country, two systems" and "national governance" would be regarded by some audiences as "scourges". Now, there are more and more reports on these topics in the media, and more and more people are willing to read such reports and participate in discussions. more.
Although there are still some people who will stick to their opinions, when they read these reports, they will certainly realize that some things exist outside of their cognition.
Middle school principal: The trend on the campus has been reversed
Deng Fei, Principal of Xiangdao Middle School, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong: After the implementation of the National Security Law, I have not heard of any secondary schools where so-called demonstrations continue to occur, and the atmosphere on the campus has been reversed.
Articles 9 and 10 of the National Security Law clearly stipulate that the SAR government should conduct national security education through schools.
In other words, schools also have the responsibility to educate students to establish a national security concept and maintain national security.
In February this year, the Education Bureau issued a notice to schools to start promoting national security education.
Under such circumstances, primary and secondary schools must cooperate with the national security education work plan and teacher training.
Recently, the first batch of Guoan education textbooks have been announced.
In addition to promoting national security education, campuses must meet the needs of national security.
The Education Bureau has asked the school to review whether the various rules and regulations in the school meet the requirements of maintaining national security. If there are problems, the system must be rectified and improved.
The changes that the National Security Law has brought to Hong Kong campuses are not only that the national flag was not raised in the past, but now it has not been sung the national anthem in the past, but now it is sung. It also fundamentally corrected the bad phenomenon that some students did not respect the national flag and the national anthem.
The so-called "political performance art" no longer appears in schools.
Of course, not all faculty members have completely changed their "yellow" positions after the National Security Law was promulgated, but at least, they no longer blatantly publicize these positions now.
There are also some faculty who choose to resign or immigrate, but this situation is not common.
In 2019, some students also participated in political activities and were even arrested on suspicion of breaking the law.
This is because there was a trend in society at that time, and it was easy for young people to follow the trend.
Nowadays, the trend has been reversed and the focus is on maintaining national security. Therefore, it is meaningless for individual teachers to try to inculcate “black violence” or “returning” into students.
In the past year, another major event in the education sector was to change the widely criticized subject to the subject of citizenship and social development. The key part of the new subject is related to national security.
Previously, general education was relatively fragmented. For example, when studying the Basic Law, it was not required to explain the ins and outs of the Basic Law and its various clauses clearly.
In actual teaching, some teachers with political prejudice may selectively interpret the provisions, for example, they will focus on Article 45 which involves universal suffrage.
This isolated and one-sided teaching turns basic law education into political brainwashing education.
The newly established Division of Civil and Social Development is very different. It will start teaching from the three unequal treaties. The content of learning includes the central government’s views on Hong Kong issues after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Sino-British negotiations in the 1980s, and the formulation of The procedures of the Basic Law completely reflect the true nature of history.
Recently, the atmosphere outside the campus to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China is becoming stronger, and the community is celebrating with an open and open flag, and there are more social activities to introduce the history of the Party and the history of New China.
When such a social atmosphere becomes mainstream, it will not be far from a fundamental change in the campus.
Mainland students: Hong Kong society has settled down, and my views on Hong Kong people have also changed
Huang Xiaosi, a graduate student of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: The university campus has returned to calm. There are no protests, gatherings, or slogans. The Lennon Wall full of political slogans has long been cleared.
It can be said that apart from talking about a few topics such as the new crown vaccine, the campus has entered a period of "political coldness".
Some college students who were very active in the "Regulations Amendment Disturbance" before now only dare to "show off their power" on the Internet.
But who will pay attention to what they post?
They are also very clear that they can only "self-heel" in a small circle.
As mainland students, we no longer have to worry about safety issues, we can speak Mandarin in school freely, and we can even communicate more frankly with local students, even if we have different political opinions.
The atmosphere that scared us in 2019 has been completely eliminated.
I remember that in November of that year, many violent behaviors occurred on campuses of the University of Hong Kong, PolyU, etc., and the conflicts between local students and mainland students were rapidly intensifying.
The mainland student of the University of Science and Technology Lao Pusheng represented us in the election of the student representative of the school board, and was crazy "starting up".
Later, I made a booklet with a few classmates, mainly to remind students in the Mainland how to protect their personal privacy.
Frankly speaking, many events in 2019 left me with the impression of "Hong Kong people are not friendly".
But as society settled down, this view of mine has also changed.
Although there may be differences in thinking between Hong Kong people and us due to living in different social systems, many of them are kind and sincere. The National Security Law actually helps to resolve the previous holdings between mainlanders and Hong Kong people. bias.
For mainland students in Hong Kong, the National Security Law is a solid "backer" and a "psychological pillar" that can study with peace of mind in Hong Kong.
Financial company employees: Hong Kong calms down and citizens can live freely, which is also worth cherishing
Zoe Ding, a human resource management of a financial institution: After the National Security Law was introduced, Hong Kong people finally ushered in a peaceful weekend. They no longer have to worry about the paralysis of public transportation and see the blatant "Hong Kong independence".
For us, the National Security Law is a "reassurance."
During the "Regulation Revision Disturbance", in order to avoid being affected by traffic paralysis, we had to go to work in three batches.
Many people's work and rest are completely disrupted and even unable to take care of their families.
Other Chinese-funded institutions in the office building were afraid of being beaten, smashed, looted and burned by rioters. They formed "self-rescue teams" and nailed layers of wooden boards to the outer walls to prevent them from being smashed.
I once saw an ATM machine smashed and burnt under the building, and I felt very complicated and uncomfortable at that time.
In addition to the impact on work, some mobs and militants would gather downstairs and shout slogans in our community every night during that time.
I want to fight them back loudly every time, but I dare not, because these thugs have no bottom line.
I am also very worried about my husband's safety, because he is a mainlander, and I am afraid that he will be attacked or humiliated by these people.
While reminding him not to speak Mandarin aloud in the community, I also asked in my heart: Why can't I speak Mandarin in my home country?
In the year when the National Security Law was promulgated, we often sighed how much the peace and freedom of life in Hong Kong are worth cherishing.
For many Hong Kong people, the significance of the National Security Law is that it delineates red lines and standards.
For example, in my company, there are now clear regulations that do not allow employees to wear any clothes with "Hong Kong independence" or inciting slogans to enter the company.
I have also noticed that in the past, many office workers in Hong Kong were more inclined to work in Hong Kong-funded or Taiwan-funded enterprises, but now, people are more and more willing to go to land-funded companies.
During the epidemic, some people chose to quit.
As far as I know, the management and operation modes of land-funded enterprises in our office buildings are very efficient, and the employees always seem to be energetic.
Current political commentator: Hong Kong is "restarting" and needs to further formulate specific requirements
Hong Kong current affairs commentator Feng Weiguang: As people have said, the National Security Law is letting Hong Kong go through chaos and governance.
The situation on the streets of Hong Kong is completely different. At the most chaotic time, you can see many American flags, as if this is not Hong Kong, China.
At that time, as long as there were friends from the Mainland who came to Hong Kong, I would persuade them to leave as soon as they were done.
In the past year, the National Security Law has changed the atmosphere of Hong Kong society.
"Blue" citizens can openly talk about patriotism. They will not be considered "red", "earth", and embarrassing as before.
The "yellow silk" must gradually get used to the changes brought about by the National Security Law.
Nowadays, some people dare not act rashly anymore. On the contrary, they are slowly accepting reality.
The National Security Law re-aligned Hong Kong's position.
In the past, the central government trusted Hong Kong, allowed Hong Kong to explore its own development direction, and seldom delineated the "red line."
However, the "Regulations Amendment Disturbance" has made all parties aware that it is necessary to clarify that "one country, two systems" is based on "one country." Hong Kong is not an independent or semi-independent entity, but a highly autonomous region under China's jurisdiction.
The implementation of the National Security Law has provided favorable conditions for the SAR to fully and accurately implement the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, and will also ensure Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
The promulgation of the National Security Law prevents Hong Kong from becoming a loophole that endangers national security, and also allows the central government to be more assured.
However, we must realize that Hong Kong’s “restart” is not enough to rely solely on the National Security Law. It is necessary to further formulate rules and “red lines” to make specific requirements for different subjects and different levels.
At the same time, some anti-China rioters in Hong Kong are still "not dead." They are continuing their "soft resistance" by "smashing them into parts."
How to contain the signs of their resurgence and completely eliminate the root cause of the anti-China chaos in Hong Kong will be an important task for the central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the future.