China News Service, Geneva, March 20 (Xinhua) Zhang Guojun, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government, spoke at the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the 20th, explaining the necessity, legitimacy and urgency of enacting Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, and refuted the False statements about legislation.
Cheung Kwok-jun said that the Hong Kong legislature has passed Article 23 of the Basic Law to fulfill Hong Kong’s long overdue constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security.
Every sovereign country has the right to enact laws to safeguard national security, including China.
Many countries have enacted a series of national security laws based on national security risks and needs.
The United States has 21 relevant laws, the United Kingdom has 14, and Canada has 9.
Zhang Guojun pointed out that in today's increasingly complex geopolitics, the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law will better protect national security from threats and is fully in line with international law and international practice.
Comments made by some countries and organizations on this matter ignore basic legal principles and facts, and are nothing but double standards and fallacies.
Zhang Guojun reiterated that the regulations clearly include the legal protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong applicable provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
This important principle forms the cornerstone of the Ordinance and is clearly stated.
The relevant legislation is fully in line with international law and international practice, strictly follows the principle of the rule of law, makes the crimes clear and clear, and sets out exclusions and defenses to ensure that law-abiding people will not fall into the wrong hands of the law.
Zhang Guojun emphasized that the Article 23 legislation has broad support from Hong Kong society.
Any attempt to discredit or undermine the legislation is completely misguided.
We firmly believe that this legislation will bring stability and prosperity to Hong Kong and will, as always, fully protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the people in accordance with the law.
Zhang Guojun attended the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council as a member of the Chinese delegation and communicated with relevant parties to promote the international community's understanding and support for the legislative work of Article 23 of the Basic Law.
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