Foreign news

National security legislation solid underpinning for rights, freedoms of Hong Kong residents

Published

5 years ago

July 6, 2020

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was passed unanimously by the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, on June 30.

The NPC Standing Committee also listed it in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law to be gazetted and enacted in Hong Kong by the SAR government.

As a strong support for the long-term and sustained implementation of “one country, two systems” principle, it will help Hong Kong go back to the right track and start again, and guarantee the rights and interests, as well as freedoms of Hong Kong residents.

It is also in compliance with the universal truth that the rights and freedoms of residents will be guaranteed to the maximum extent possible, if the security of a country is guaranteed and its society remains stable.

Chinese President Xi Jinping remarked, “Without a harmonious and stable environment, how can people live in peace and enjoy their work!” What he said was particularly proved true in the protests over the proposed amendments to the HKSAR’s extradition bill in June 2019.

Planed and instigated by anti-China forces who attempt to disrupt Hong Kong, black-clad rioters and “mutual destruction” tactic once swept the HKSAR. Extremists and violent radicals set fire and hurled gasoline and petrol bombs, confronted the police enforcement with violence, restricted and beat up policemen and civilians, illegally possessed guns and ammunition, installed explosive devices, created fear and panic with anthrax and made many terrorist attacks.

Living and working in peace and contentment, and enjoying the rights and freedoms has become a luxury when the most basic personal safety and daily life are threatened.

Today, people are fully aware that those who provoke violence and apply “mutual destruction” tactic are the biggest enemies of the rights and freedom of the residents of Hong Kong.

Anti-China forces attempting to destabilize Hong Kong, by particularly taking advantage of Hong Kong’s national security loophole in legislation, have recklessly engaged in activities that jeopardize the principle of “one country, two systems.”

Moreover, they pitted safeguarding national security against protecting the rights and freedoms of residents, and stigmatized and demonized Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, in a bid to better carry out secession, subversion, infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland.

The legislation will target a small minority of severe criminals jeopardizing national security, including secession, subverting state power and organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as interference in the HKSAR’s internal affairs by foreign or external forces.

Preventing, prohibiting and punishing these illegal acts in accordance with the Law aims to safeguard national security and maintain prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, better protect life and property of a majority of Hong Kong residents, and rights and freedoms prescribed in the Basic Law.

Safeguarding national security overlaps with protecting rights and freedoms in essence. It is clearly stipulated in the Law that the HKSAR must act in line with rule of law. And the Law also underlines respecting and protecting human rights.

When the law is enacted, Hong Kong citizens’ rights and freedoms of speech, press, publication, assembly, association, procession and of demonstration that are enshrined in the Basic Law of the HKSAR and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the SAR will remain the same.

Besides, normal exchanges and contact between residents and legal persons of the international metropolis and other countries, regions and international organizations will be protected, too.

Admittedly, some Hong Kong residents’ understanding and trust of the country, especially the rule of law of the mainland is another deep-seat issue.

Thanks to the sheer endeavor in the past four decades since reform and opening up, China has made remarkable achievements in establishing the rule of law. A law-based environment is the best environment for doing business. The Chinese mainland remains one of the most attractive destinations for foreign investment, which speaks volume for the rule of law in China.

The mainland and Hong Kong do not differ greatly in terms of criminal justice systems. Since security organizations perform tasks in accordance with the law and follow a rigorous procedure in the mainland, there is no need to worry that these organizations will not respect the rule of law in the HKSAR.

In recent years, many foreigners based in the mainland have repeated on many occasions that China is the safest place in the world, which serves as the best demonstration.

Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy have been implemented in good faith. It is acknowledged by all that all the rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR are fully protected, and that the residents are entitled to a wider range of rights and freedoms than what they had under the British colonial rule.

With the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the new guardian for the HKSAR, the residents will be sure to better enjoy the institutional advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle, and work and live in an even safer, more stable and more harmonious social environment.

When chaos and fear disappear and peace and harmony is restored on the land of Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient will embrace a more splendid future.

Share on Facebook

Foreign news

French Envoy Seeks Collaboration With NAN To Boost Seamless Relationship

Published

1 month ago

February 5, 2025

The Gleamer

The new French envoy to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, on Wednesday called for collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) toward strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Fonbaustier, who is the French ambassador to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, NAN’s Managing Director, in Abuja.
The ambassador said that his purpose of visiting was to pay tribute to the MD, and to seek collaboration in three areas with a view to promoting stronger, seamless and fruitful partnership between both countries.

He added that Nigeria and its people were hospitable, especially to the foreigners and ambassadors alike.

He added that Nigeria was a country with so much energy, strength, stamina and so many talents.

In Nigeria, with the population of this size, it is inevitable that the elites of the country are very outstanding, “and there may be a Franco/Nigeria moments now”, he jokes.

According to him, France and Nigeria can collaborate more and learn from each other.
“I could feel it particularly during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu which took place in November 2024.

“I was there and I could see the intensity, the strength and the scope of the partnership, and I am here to scale up that partnership in all sectors.

“I am coming here for three reasons, first, to pay a tribute to the NAN MD and his team for the quality of this agency. We can testify that the contents that you publish are very factual, and also very well set up and structured.

“You do fact checking and you really do try to provide the community with quality information. I think, as a French ambassador, I can recognise that as part of a living democracy,” he said.

The French ambassador said the second reason for the visit was to intimate the NAN MD of France’s eagerness to go on partnership with NAN saying he hoped for assurance of a seamless, fluid and easy relationship.

He said that his third reason stemmed from his observation that NAN recently signed some partnership framework agreements with Egypt and China, saying “it may be time to think of balancing this partnership with others”.

“Especially with French, and to talk with Agence France-Presse (AFP) to see if there’s ground for a closer relationship between NAN and AFP.

“Which is also a recognised agency like yours, and I bet you the sky will be the limit to the collaboration, ’’he said.

Responding, the NAN MD informed the envoy that the agency was African’s biggest news content provider on account of its size.

Ali gave the envoy a little details of the agency’s operation and its outreach, saying “as our continent’s biggest news content provider, we have offices nationwide and in selected African countries.

“We have offices in countries such as South Africa, Cote d’ivoire, Addis Ababa, and then we have offices also beyond the shores of Africa. We have in New York and we are the only resident wire service in the United Nations.

“At a time in the past, the agency had 11 foreign offices, including Moscow, and presently, we are trying to re-open some of our shut offices, especially in London.
“We value partnership and understanding that we have with similar news organisation such as Reuters and, incidentally, we have a long standing relationship with AFP which you just raised.
“I know for years we have exchange of news between NAN and AFP but it’s a cooperation that we will like to strengthen and with your greater involvement,’’ he said.

The MD commended the ambassador for reaching out and engaging with some Nigerians communities to douse the tension of the allegation made by the Nigeriens.

He also lauded the envoy’s leadership and visibility to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, “which has helped to douse the perception and misconceptions about France, especially in the Sahel”.
“I think you have helped to reverse some of this perceptions. I thank you for the kind words that you said about the agency and about our management.

“We also see partnership as an important tool in checking the spread of fake news.
“We’ve seen instances where fake news has done great deal of damage, and with the coming of social media it has done even greater damage.

“Our country is facing a lot of challenges, one of which is the increasing insecurity, and the social media has been used by those who do not want to see our country to prosper,” Ali said.
He further said that NAN was a credible news agency that always fact check to correct the wrong narratives by those who are in the business of causing troubles.

He also told the envoy that the agency has its content in the Nigerian indigenous languages, starting with Hausa and it would proceed to Yoruba and Igbo languages later, “then later in future to French.

Share on Facebook