Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

June 30 marks the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Monday that the law has enabled Hong Kong to make a major transition from chaos to order and has laid a solid legal foundation for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests. This in itself is an important milestone in the undertaking of "One Country, Two Systems."  

The date also marked the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR where officials held a national flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning, according to the office. 

Since the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong, several organizations that once incited riots and advocated for "Hong Kong independence" have disbanded, street violence has significantly decreased, and Hong Kong residents are once again able to enjoy peace and stability, according to some Hong Kong-based observers 

Law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations and prosecutions in accordance with the law for actions endangering national security, while the judiciary has handled related cases accordingly, demonstrating the spirit of the rule of law, Willy Fu, a law professor who is also director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. 

On the economic front, the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong has bolstered investor confidence. Hong Kong's financial markets remained stable, further reinforcing its status as an international financial center, Fu said.

With the restoration of social order, industries such as tourism and retail gradually recovered, and daily life has returned to normal. Additionally, in fields such as education and media, national security education has been strengthened to foster a sense of national identity, particularly among the younger generation, Fu added. 

Major milestone

Dong Jingwei, director of the office, told during the ceremony that the enactment and implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong is a significant milestone in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems." Hong Kong has undergone a major transformation from chaos to order and is now entering a crucial stage of opening up new prospects and achieving new breakthroughs, Dong noted. 

Dong said the office remains unwavering in its commitment to fully implementing the holistic approach to national security, firmly enforcing the NSL for Hong Kong, preventing risks, safeguarding security, and protecting development. 

The office will continue to work together with the HKSAR to build a high-level security framework, support Hong Kong's high-quality development, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding the great practice of "One Country, Two Systems," the official said. 

The implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong over the past five years has proven the law to be a "guardian" in upholding the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the HKSAR government's spokesperson said. 

It is an important and timely piece of legislation with profound historical significance. The NSL for Hong Kong and other laws in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR firmly adhere to the principle of the rule of law while protecting the rights and freedoms in accordance with the law, the spokesperson noted.  

At present, the business environment has continuously improved. Hong Kong ranks first as the world's freest economy and third among global financial centers, and has returned to the top three in the world in terms of competitiveness, demonstrating that Hong Kong is moving full steam ahead along the path of advancing from stability to prosperity, the spokesperson said. 

Although NSL for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have been implemented, the external environment remains severe. Foreign forces, led by the US and other countries, are still attempting to disrupt Hong Kong in order to contain China's development, Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki was quoted as saying in local media reports on Sunday. 

Chan emphasized that Hong Kong continues to face national security risks such as "soft resistance." revealing that the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has received reports of such incidents and will coordinate with relevant departments and policy bureaus to formulate plans, guidelines, and strategies to effectively address and eliminate these security threats, local media RTHK said. 

In an article published on People's Daily on Monday, Dong said the NSL for Hong Kong clearly stipulates respect for and protection of human rights and adherence to the rule of law. 

National security work and law enforcement actions are carried out strictly in accordance with legal provisions, exercising statutory powers and following legal procedures. The law targets a very small minority while protecting the vast majority, thereby better safeguarding the lives, property, and fundamental rights and freedoms of most Hong Kong residents, Dong noted. 

In the five years since its enactment, only 76 individuals have been convicted and sentenced under the NSL for Hong Kong, Dong said, noting that this stands in sharp contrast to the over 1,000 people convicted and heavily sentenced for the 2021 US Capitol riots, or to the recent deployment of military forces in response to unrest in Los Angeles. 

Law enforcement and judicial actions under the NSL for Hong Kong have been marked by fairness, justification, and restraint, making it a model of the rule of law in safeguarding national security. It offers valuable Chinese experience for countries around the world, Dong noted. 

Rebuttal of smear 

Although the city has regained stability under the protection of the NSL for Hong Kong, some Western media and organizations continue to claim that the city's  freedom and democracy have seriously regressed over the past five years. In response, some observers believe that such criticism and smears were to be expected. 

While it is true that Hong Kong has lost the so-called "freedom" that posed a threat to national security, local residents do not feel regretful, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Monday.

On the contrary, during the period when the " anti-China and destabilizing forces in Hong Kong were rampant, any criticism of them was met with harsh treatment, including doxxing and defamation, which caused many to fear speaking out, Lau noted. 

Now, however, people are free to express their opinions openly, especially support for the country, the central government, and the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. "Therefore, I believe that after the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong, the freedom of speech for the people of Hong Kong has actually increased," he said. 

As Hong Kong's status on the international stage grows, foreign forces are employing increasingly diverse and covert methods to interfere in its affairs, Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung told the Global Times in an exclusive interview recently. 

"As I've often warned the public, national security threats frequently take the form of 'soft resistance.' Some external forces disguise their agendas under the banners of 'democracy' and 'freedom,' spreading misinformation and distorted narratives to discredit the HKSAR government's lawful governance and mislead public opinion in an attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs," Tang said. 

However, the HKSAR government will not tolerate any country, organization, or individual meddling in Hong Kong's affairs, he said. "We will continue to reinforce our legal safeguards by strengthening legislation and enforcement. We'll also work to raise public awareness of national security, deepen citizens' understanding of the rule of law and their national identity, and build a strong social foundation to resist foreign interference."