China News Service, July 1st, Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said on the 1st that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region maintains national security laws. The provisions of the Hong Kong National Security Law on retrospective issues are consistent with the general provisions of international criminal laws. , Is not retroactive.
On June 30, the 20th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress voted and passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Maintenance of National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and decided to include it in Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law. On July 1, the State Council Office held a press conference and asked Shen Chunyao, director of the Legal Work Committee of the National People's Congress, and Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, to introduce the relevant situation and answer questions.
At the press conference, a reporter asked: Article 66 of the Hong Kong National Security Law stipulates that this law will be implemented from the date of promulgation. Does this mean that crimes against national security that occurred before the promulgation of the law will not be investigated.
Zhang Xiaoming said that the provisions of Hong Kong's National Security Law on retrospective issues are consistent with the general provisions of international criminal law, that is, they are not retroactive. This is clear, and it also shows that our law follows the principles of modern rule of law.
Zhang Xiaoming said that among the relevant laws currently in Hong Kong, the existing laws, including the Criminal Offences Ordinance, Public Security Ordinance, Societies Ordinance, and Official Secrets Ordinance, etc., all have certain provisions related to national security, which should be applied. To punish criminal acts that have endangered national security. Article 8 of the National Security Law of Hong Kong clearly stipulates that the law enforcement and judicial organs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall effectively implement the provisions of this Law and the existing laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region concerning the prevention, suppression and punishment of acts that endanger national security, and effectively maintain national security. This shows that it is the legal responsibility of the administrative law enforcement and judicial organs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to punish acts that jeopardize national security by applying the relevant provisions of the currently effective laws.
Zhang Xiaoming said that the function of any criminal law is not only to punish crimes, but also to prevent crimes. We sincerely hope that after the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong society will earnestly learn to understand this law, enhance national awareness, national security awareness, and the concept of the rule of law. In particular, school education should make up this lesson. We hope that the young people in Hong Kong are good children who love the country, love Hong Kong and abide by the law, and have bright prospects and a bright future!