Handover Day: New security law a ‘sharp sword’ says Hong Kong’s John Lee, as leader hails 1 Country, 2 Systems
Hong Kong Free Press
The principle of One Country, Two Systems – while “tested on all fronts” since China resumed sovereignty in 1997 – remains the “best institutional arrangement” for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, Chief Executive John Lee has said on the 27th anniversary of the Handover.
The policy that allowed Hong Kong to maintain a capitalist system while being part of socialist China was a “great innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics” and the “best solution” to the historical issues of Hong Kong, Lee wrote in a 6,574-word article published on Monday.
Monday marked 27 years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule after it was colonised by Britain. This year also marked the first Handover anniversary since the city passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a locally-legislated security law more commonly known as Article 23.
Celebrations for the 27th Handover anniversary began on Monday morning, with top government officials and other guests wearing a patriotic pins which featured the Chinese national flag and the regional flag at a ceremony and reception in Admiralty.
Among those on the front row of the flag-raising ceremony were Lee, former chief executives Carrie Lam, Leung Chun-ying and Donald Tsang, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung and the director of China’s liaison office in Hong Kong Zheng Yanxiong.
‘Protector’ of freedom
In Monday’s article, the Hong Kong leader said the unanimous passing of Article 23 legislation in March became part of the city’s “glorious history.” With a sophisticated security system in place, Hong Kong – whose door was once “wide open to both thieves and friends” – may now identify the “thieves” and protect its “friends,” Lee wrote citing an analogy from some members of the public.
“For an extremely small minority of those who jeopardise national security, this law is a sharp sword pointed at them; for the community at large and foreign investors, this law is a ‘protector’ of their rights, freedoms, property and investments,” an English version of Lee’s article read.
Lee went on to say that Hong Kong’s peaceful return to China “changed the so-called ‘standard formula’ of the past” in which military action was often involved in the regaining of lost territory.
The long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong demonstrated that Beijing was capable of developing a city where a capitalist system was practised, Lee wrote. He added the policy was a manifestation of the Chinese wisdom of “embracing different perspectives with an open mindset,” and a “great contribution to the political civilisation of mankind.”
In the conclusion, Lee said One Country, Two Systems was put into practice, and “tested on all fronts,” throughout 27 years. He pointed to the US and some Western countries, claiming they had “bullied and curbed” China’s development.
Chief Executive John Lee’s July 1 speech in full – click to view.
Distinguished guests, fellow citizens,
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China and the second anniversary of the current-term Government. This year is particularly significant, in marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
On this day two years ago, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech here in Hong Kong. In it, he put forward “four musts” and “four proposals” for Hong Kong. These have become the basis of my governance blueprint. Over the past two years, we acted in line with the spirit of President Xi’s series of important speeches for Hong Kong. With concerted and collective efforts of all concerned, many policies launched by the current term of the Government are delivering results.
Over the past two years, I have formed a pragmatic and result-oriented team. And it has been working hard to unite the community and build a better Hong Kong. We have ridden out the storm of the epidemic and fully resumed normal travel. We have completed the local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law, fulfilling the constitutional responsibility and historic mission that Hong Kong had waited 26 years, 8 months and 19 days to accomplish.
We have improved district governance and fully implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. We have established Care Teams in all 18 districts to help citizens in need at different levels. This Government has been working assiduously to develop the economy and improve people’s livelihood. We have abolished all demand-side management measures for residential properties. That has resulted in a substantial rise in the registered number of property transactions and a stable property market.
I attach great importance to housing issues. The waiting time for public rental housing has been capped at six years. With the smooth implementation of Light Public Housing projects, the Advance Allocation Scheme and more, waiting time will be shortened to about 4.5 years by 2026-27. The establishment of the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units squarely addresses our very real concerns of subdivided units. Our strategy of targeted poverty alleviation directs resources to help sectors most in need.
We took note of opinions on Hong Kong’s dwindling fertility and requests for government action, and changed the past non-interventionist approach and took a combination of measures to promote childbirth. These include giving families with newborns priority in purchasing subsidised sale flats and in the allocation of public rental housing units, providing tax allowances and deductions, strengthening child care services, enhancing support for assisted reproductive services and dispersing the Newborn Baby Bonus.
We are also concerned about labour welfare. The minimum wage will now be reviewed annually rather than every two years. We have worked to attract enterprises, investment and talent on an extensive scale. As a result, about 120 000 talent have already come to Hong Kong.
We are committed to fueling the city’s hustle and bustle, attracting people and generating economic momentum. We are staging more than 200 events throughout this year and organised activities under the “Day x Night Vibes” initiative across 18 districts. We have adopted an “industry-driven” approach to promoting economic and social development. My Principal Officials and I have travelled the world exploring business opportunities and promoting our city.
I am grateful for the Central Government’s support and care in launching a variety of further measures benefitting Hong Kong. These include extending the Individual Visit Scheme to cover 10 more Mainland cities, implementing new initiatives to deepen financial co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, especially in promoting the listing of leading Mainland enterprises here, the recent announcement of increasing the duty-free allowance for luggage articles brought into the Mainland from Hong Kong by visitors who are Mainland residents and more.
Over the past two years, the Government has worked to further improve governance, continued to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressed the concerns of the people of Hong Kong, and united efforts in safeguarding harmony and stability. We have been innovative and proactive in addressing issues and solving problems. I often emphasise that good can always be better – this is our attitude towards work. I lead my team in the spirit of manoeuvring a ship. We head in the right direction, share the same beliefs, act with increasing speed, braving the wind and waves, moving towards our goal.
Looking ahead, the HKSAR Government will focus its efforts in three main areas:
First, developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood. In the past two years, we have turned Hong Kong’s economy around from negative to positive growth. Our GDP, which recorded negative growth of 3.7 per cent when this Government took office in 2022, grew 3.3 per cent last year. And we expect positive growth of 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent this year.
Earnings over the past two years have also gone up. Median monthly earnings of full-time employees have risen from about $21,000 two years ago to $23,500 in the first quarter of this year, an increase of $2,500, or 11 per cent.
Going forward, the Government will make every endeavour to pursue economic growth, advance development and improve the livelihood of the people of Hong Kong. For example, the first phase of Light Public Housing is now open for applications, providing about 4 400 units for intake in the first quarter of next year. My goal is to make Hong Kong a better place for all – for everyone to enjoy a better living environment, for young people to realise their potential, for our elderly to be well taken care of. I am determined to create a caring, cohesive and flourishing community for all.
Second, reinforcing Hong Kong’s competitive edge and exploring new areas of growth. I have been working to better integrate a “capable government” with an “efficient market”, introducing measures to compete for talents, strategic enterprises and capital to Hong Kong. Going forward, we will continue to sharpen our edge and grasp the opportunities to develop new areas of economic growth. Apart from reinforcing such traditional sectors as finance, trading, shipping, logistics and professional services, we must also tap into the immense opportunities brought about by national and international dual circulation. We must develop “headquarters economy”, unleashing the city’s advantages in financial services, while deepening mutual access with the Mainland’s financial market.
We must, as well, continue to pursue innovation and technology, developing new quality productive forces, adopting an industry-oriented approach to promote new industrialisation and such emerging strategic areas as pharmaceutical research and development and new energy transport.
Encouraging our cultural and creative industries is also a priority. The Kai Tak Sports Park will be completed by year’s end. More than sports, it will also drive our progress in culture, entertainment, tourism and related industries, boosting Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Third, seizing both national and international opportunities, and boarding the “fast train” of our country’s development. Hong Kong now faces an opportune moment to advance from stability to prosperity. And we have boarded our country’s “fast train” for the development of new quality productive forces and comprehensive deepening of reforms. Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying our country’s strong support while being closely connected to the world. We will continue to realise those advantages, upholding our institutional strengths and sharpening our competitiveness. While doing so, we will also integrate into our country’s development, and consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s “eight centres” of development.
With the Northern Metropolis as the new engine for growth and adopting an industry-oriented approach, we will align with national development strategies, seizing, in particular, the opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.
No less important, Hong Kong will reinforce its advantages as a global city, maintaining its high degree of internationalisation. We will strengthen regional collaboration, targeting such markets as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East. We will, as well, strive for accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and increase our links with Europe and other western markets, thereby serving well as an important node of the national and international dual circulation, creating new opportunities and fresh impetus.
Distinguished guests, fellow citizens, there is a Chinese saying that things are born out of planning and completed in practice. While there are both opportunities and challenges for Hong Kong today, our opportunities decidedly outnumber the challenges. The Government will bravely shoulder its responsibilities and deliver good results. During this economic transition, we will unite and lead society in seeking innovation. We will strive for excellence and succeed. We should have the big picture in mind, seeing the forest as well as the trees. We must stand up high and look far ahead, dealing with issues from the perspective of the overall development of the country and the world. We must continue to adopt innovative thinking, bottom-line thinking and a result-oriented approach, enhancing speed and efficiency, proactively seizing opportunities and capitalising on our strengths for the benefit of our community.
Distinguished guests, fellow citizens, good news for Hong Kong comes one after another. On this festive day, I have more good news. Hong Kong will soon welcome two new family members: a pair of giant pandas.
I am deeply grateful to the Central Government for its care and support for Hong Kong, and for considering my proposal of sending us a pair of giant pandas. We will start the preparation work immediately to receive the giant pandas. They will arrive in Hong Kong in a few months and bring us amusement and happiness.
Fellow citizens, we are all part of the Hong Kong family. Let’s stand united and scale new heights for Hong Kong together!
Thank you.
“[N]o matter how many difficulties and obstacles we have encountered, with the staunch support from our country and the concerted efforts of all citizens, Hong Kong has gone from strength to strength,” the article read.
Separate to the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of to up to 16 days, and suspects’ access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city’s opposition-free legislature.
The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and “regressive.” Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to “close loopholes” after the 2019 protests and unrest.
‘Better place for all’
On Monday morning, the chief executive also gave a speech at a reception at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre following the flag-raising ceremony. Before Lee’s speech, a video showcasing the work of his administration over the past two years was played. The clip highlighted the enactment of the Article 23 legislation, saying the city fulfilled its constitutional duty and national security was protected “without any worries or concerns.”
The video also mentioned that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Central Government “valued and cared about Hong Kong a lot,” adding that “when Hong Kong has a need, the motherland will respond.”
Addressing the crowd, Lee said the government would focus on pursuing economic growth and improving livelihoods, as well as consolidating the city’s competitive edge. He added Hong Kong should also seize the opportunities presented by mainland China and around the world, and “board the ‘fast train” of our country’s development.”
“My goal is to make Hong Kong a better place for all – for everyone to enjoy a better living environment, for young people to realise their potential, for our elderly to be well taken care of. I am determined to create a caring, cohesive and flourishing community for all,” an English translation of his speech read.
Security chief hails passport cancellations
On Saturday, several local media outlets published interviews with Secretary for Security Chris Tang, who reviewed his work over the past two years since Lee’s administration was sworn in on the 2022 Handover anniversary.
In his interview with RTHK, Tang mentioned the cancellation of passports for six UK-based self-exiled activists – notably: Nathan Law, Christopher Mung, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. It marked the first time the government had invoked new powers under the recently enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
Tang said that – while some some of the affected activists claimed they had not used their Hong Kong passports for a number of years, or they had never held a Hong Kong passport – cancelling the travel documents allowed the “fugitives” to know they were “paying a hefty price.”
“You may have value to be exploited now – so they pity you and give you a travel document. But when you no longer have that value, then there is [no more travel document]. You will just be rolled around,” he said in Cantonese, in reference to the activists seeking alternative passports.
Meanwhile, finance chief Paul Chan told Commercial Radio on Sunday that it was time for Hong Kong to relax its defensive posture and work on the economy: “In the short term, we are holding many mega events and inviting people to visit Hong Kong. We hope to make our city more lively and prosperous. After the pandemic, fewer people are coming here, and Western countries may have misunderstandings about Hong Kong… But businesses, who have come in recent months, feel positive about Hong Kong,” he said, according to RTHK.
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