4 | Monday, May 25, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY

An elderly Hong Kong resident signs a petition in support of the country’s HK o cials voice support top legislature enacting a national security law for the special administrative region on Sunday in Central. The proposed legislation aims to outlaw acts of secession, for national security law subversion, terrorism and external intervention. Chief executive says public have been urging her for a long time to CHINA DAILY implement such legislation to end unrest and violence in the city

By CHINA DAILY ty is the duty of each and every national. When there is no country, Leading government o cials in there is no home. These are basic Hong Kong voiced their support on Some people had principles that any right-minded Sunday for the nation’s top legisla- betrayed the city’s person will agree on. Vilifi cation of ture to introduce a national security fundamental inter- the national security law is utterly law for the special administrative irrational,” she said. region, saying that it is “constitu- ests. They had incit- Secretary for Security John tional, legitimate and reasonable”. ed separatism, local- Lee Ka-chiu stressed the need for Residents hope legislation quells violence It’s “necessary and urgent” for ism and extremism national security legislation by the National People’s Congress to referring to a recent outbreak of enact such a law for Hong Kong, that have chal- homegrown terrorism which had By CHINA DAILY mous, dismissed speculation that a 30s, was a volunteer at one of the Chief Executive Cheng lenged ‘one country’ included the use of explosives. national security law would be a blow street booths in North Point, on Hong Yuet-ngor said on her social media Lee noted that since last year, Hong Kong residents voiced their to Hong Kong’s status as a fi nancial Kong Island. page. over the past year.’’ Hong Kong has witnessed more support on Sunday for the national center. Ma, a wedding planner, was a victim Lam said she has received lots Matthew Cheung Kin- than 10 such cases involving explo- security legislation put forward by “If the law contributes to the safety of the protests that began in June. of messages from local residents chung, chief secretary for sives and dangerous items. He China’s top legislature, hoping it can and security of the city, I personally Orders were slashed and pre-booked administration in recent months. They had asked added that the explosives seized by restore peace in the city and free it would welcome it,” he said. “The fi nan- events had to be canceled as popu- the government to implement their police, and the aggressive tactics from the street violence that put busi- cial sector always prefers a stable envi- lar wedding banquet venues in Tsim own national security law, which used by radicals, were commonly nesses and people’s livelihoods in ronment.” Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, the city’s is part of the SAR’s constitutional would make the “utmost e‹ orts” seen in overseas terrorist attacks. great peril. He said the violence and instability major commercial districts, were obligations as stipulated in Article to explain the importance of this “E‹ ectively curbing terrorist-like Meanwhile, an online petition in caused by the protests were the main often targets of the radicals. 23 of the Basic Law. legislation to local residents. activities that endanger national support of the legislation launched on reasons many banks had left the city Ma said the legislation would e‹ ec- This refl ects the widespread con- Chief Secretary for Administra- security will help Hong Kong Saturday in Hong Kong has collected since June. tively deter the opposition camp and cern among most Hong Kong peo- tion Matthew Cheung Kin-chung become a safe and a stable city,” over 90,000 signatures by 6 pm. The banker said he was not wor- those who condone the violence that ple who are disgusted by violence, said in his blog on Sunday that said Lee. Pang Shun-mee, a 77-year-old for- ried about the business environment has wreaked havoc in Hong Kong. separatism and foreign interven- the city shares the same interests Financial Secretary Paul Chan mer civil servant who was among the in Hong Kong even if the legislation During a ceremony to promote the tion over the past year, said Lam. as its motherland. But he noted Mo-po also expressed support for signatories, said “heavy penalties are causes short-term market volatility, campaign on Sunday morning, one Since last June, Hong Kong has suf- some people had betrayed the city’s the legislation. He said a safe and the right medicine to treat a chaotic as some who oppose the legislation of the conveners, pro-establishment fered extensive violence and van- fundamental interests. They had stable social environment would society”. have predicted. Hong Kong legislator Starry Lee dalism caused by anti-government incited separatism, localism and help business operations and He said Hong Kong needs such a Banks that leave will come back, in Wai-king, stressed that the National protesters. extremism that have challenged investment activities. resolution as the city has been suf- the same way that some banks that People’s Congress’ proposal to intro- Considering the constant delay- “one country” over the past year, Chan noted that last year’s social fering from violence and chaos trig- left before 1997, when the city was duce the national security legislation ing tactics of opposition lawmakers, Cheung added. turbulence had worried investors at gered by “traitors” and a small group returned to China, moved back to was necessary to address legal loop- it was very hard to complete local These illegal and violent acts, home and abroad. It was necessary of rioters who have lost their sense of Hong Kong when they realized the holes and ensure the well-being of legislation under Article 23, Lam if not effectively contained, can to legislate the national security national identity. only change was broader opportuni- the people. explained. threaten national security, he said. law to restore stability in the city, Pang said they should be severely ties, he said. In fact, more banks had Founders of the campaign include According to the draft decision, Cheung said the central govern- he added. punished by the forthcoming national come to the city for business since that Tam Yiu-chung, a Hong Kong mem- the proposed law will be inserted ment’s decision was reasonable He also reassured the business security law. year, he said. ber of the NPC’s Standing Commit- into Annex III of the Basic Law and considering the legal loopholes in sector that their interests would “These people are trying to deprive The signature campaign, launched tee; Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, a mem- take e‹ ect through promulgation, Hong Kong when it comes to safe- not be a‹ ected by the law. “Normal other people of their rights for their both online and through 133 street ber of the Chinese People’s Political instead of local legislation. It will guarding national security. foreign investment and trade activi- own political gains and sacrifi ce other booths across the city, was initiated Consultative Conference National outlaw acts of secession, subver- Secretary for Justice Teresa ties in the city will continue as usual people’s freedom for their own free- by a coalition consisting of over 2,000 Committee; NPC deputies Stanley sion, terrorism and external inter- Cheng Yeuk-wah also supported — as these will not a‹ ect national dom,” he said. political, social, business and educa- Ng Chau-pei and Brave Chan Yung; ference in Hong Kong. the rationale behind the legislation. security. There is no need to worry A European banker based in Hong tion leaders in Hong Kong. and Hong Kong legislator Lam pledged the government “Upholding national sovereign- too much,” he added. Kong, who asked to remain anony- Wendy Ma, a local resident in her Lau Suk-yee.

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