China News Service, Hong Kong, March 5 (Reporter Liu Dawei) In response to the remarks made by certain US and Western politicians and institutional groups on the legislation of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law (referred to as "Article 23 legislation") in recent days, many Hong Kong experts and legislative council In an interview with a reporter from China News Service, a member of the Communist Party of China said that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and foreigners are welcome to engage in rational dialogue on the 23 legislation rather than making groundless accusations that are divorced from the facts.
Recently, the Hong Kong SAR government’s public consultation on Article 23 legislation concluded successfully.
Among the opinions collected, the vast majority gave support and positive opinions to the SAR government.
In sharp contrast, some foreign politicians, institutions and groups are trying to exert public pressure on Hong Kong.
Yung Hoi-yan, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a practicing barrister, told reporters that these politically-advanced remarks ignore the constitutional responsibilities of Article 23 legislation and the actual needs of Hong Kong society, interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs, and trample on Hong Kong's rule of law.
He Jianzong, a member of the expert group of the Chief Executive's Policy Group and founder and chairman of the One Country, Two Systems Youth Forum, told reporters that the Article 23 legislation is a necessary measure for the SAR government to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities and aims to fill legal loopholes and prevent and crack down on any behavior that endangers national security.
"Relevant remarks reflect that many groups still misunderstand the purpose of the legislation and do not understand the actual situation in Hong Kong."
Regarding the remarks that "Article 23 legislation may affect Hong Kong's business environment", Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council member Hung Wen said that there was no significant difference in Hong Kong's economic activities before and after the establishment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, and the international business community's business confidence in Hong Kong has never changed.
The 23-article legislation will further improve the legal system for safeguarding national security, will certainly create a more stable development environment for Hong Kong, and will be beneficial and harmless to business.
He Jianzong also said that during the public consultation period, the SAR government held consultation meetings specifically for foreign consuls and foreign chambers of commerce to explain the consultation documents in detail and listen to suggestions from all parties, aiming to eliminate the concerns of the international community.
"Hong Kong is an international city, and the investment and business activities of various chambers of commerce and international companies in Hong Kong are protected by law. They should assess risks based on facts and legal regulations, rather than making decisions influenced by inaccurate information."
Gao Songjie, co-founder of the Hong Kong Start Again Alliance and vice chairman of the Hong Kong Elite Association, gave an example. The British National Security Act will take effect in 2023. The relevant provisions are more than the 23 legislative consultation documents released by the SAR government. Some concepts It is even very vague, with broad authorization for law enforcement agencies, and is easily abused.
Hong Wen pointed out that the enactment of laws to safeguard national security is no longer surprising to Hong Kong's major business partners.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore have all enacted laws similar to those covered by the Hong Kong National Security Law or Article 23 of the Basic Law, and established relevant decision-making and execution agencies to protect the interests of the country and its citizens.
"From the opinions collected during the public consultation period, it can be seen that the Article 23 legislation has become a general consensus in Hong Kong society. Anti-China politicians and foreign forces frequently make moves, does this indirectly prove the necessity of the Article 23 legislation?" Gao Songjie said.
"With the successful conclusion of the public consultation period for the Article 23 legislation, we have seen enthusiastic support and expectations from all walks of life, and it also reflects that the Article 23 legislation is crucial to maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability." Yung Hoi-yan said that foreign anti-China politicians should recognize Clarify the facts, rationally understand the benefits of Article 23 legislation to Hong Kong, and stop all remarks and actions that smear Hong Kong and interfere in China’s internal affairs.
Inappropriate remarks by American and Western politicians and groups have also aroused dissatisfaction among Hong Kong citizens.
In the past few days, many citizen groups or associations have protested in front of the consulates general of the United States, Britain and other countries in Hong Kong to express their condemnation of relevant remarks.
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