Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang calls for swift Article 23 legislation, says it will make Hong Kong ‘safer, more open and resilient’
“Completing the legislation as soon as possible is necessary for Hong Kong society to move forward burden-free, making the city safer, more open, and more resilient,” Ding was quoted as saying by deputy Chan Yung.
“Ding said only [with the legislation] can Hong Kong shift its primary focus to economic development, enhancing people’s livelihoods, and embarking on a road to prosperity,” Chan, who is also a lawmaker in the city, told reporters after the meeting.
The vice-premier also urged delegates to take the initiative to further explain the proposed law to society while “fearlessly” refuting deliberate attempts to smear and spread false information concerning the legislation, according to Chan.
Hong Kong leader vows to enact domestic security law ‘as soon as possible’
Hong Kong wrapped up a one-month public consultation on the legislation last Wednesday and the government said about 98.6 per cent of the 13,489 submissions had voiced support.
But some foreign countries have raised concerns over the coming law, including claims from Washington’s top envoy in Hong Kong who said some American companies had to use burner phones and laptops when visiting the city due to connectivity issues and data security concerns.
Another Hong Kong NPC deputy, Rock Chen Chong-nin, said Ding had called on the deputies to address concerns and unfounded reports about the city and the country, citing examples, such as “China threat theory”, “the coming collapse of China” and those concerning Hong Kong losing its financial centre status.
“Ding told us to have unwavering confidence [about the country] … History has proven that such statements are baseless and will collapse in the light of the facts,” Chen added.
The deputy, who has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, also shared Ding’s calls for Hong Kong to remain a “highly international” city by not only maintaining good relations with its old acquaintances, such as the United States and Europe, but by also meeting new friends.
Chan said he understood that the new friends Ding referred to were from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Deputy and Basic Law Committee member Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said Ding mentioned the common law several times at the meeting. She said Ding expressed hopes for the city to safeguard its status as a financial hub with the use of the common law and the coming national security legislation.
According to the attendees, Ding praised Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu “more than once”.
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Ding, the sixth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, leads the top decision-making institution on Hong Kong affairs and directly reports to the ruling party.
Ding delivered a speech that lasted for around 50 minutes and heard suggestions and views from six deputies, according to deputy Ma Fung-kwok who presided over the meeting.
On the same occasion last year, the NPC delegation met with Zhao Leji, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. Zhao urged deputies to “resolutely protect” national security and oppose acts that intervene in and damage the stability of the “one country, two systems” governing principle, according to delegates.