Washington (People's Daily) – Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on Friday that the national security law will ensure the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. This is absolutely good news for over seven million Hong Kong residents and over 80,000 US citizens living in Hong Kong.

Screenshot: Twitter

Ambassador Cui Tiankai, in a video message released on the embassy's website and his Twitter account, talked about the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region offering detailed information.

“The Chinese government and people are fully determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to oppose external interference into Hong Kong affairs,” said Cui.

Cui emphasized the adoption of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a milestone in the practice of “one country two systems”, and will provide a strong institutional guarantee for its long-term implementation. 

Cui gave an example to illustrate the wide support of the public for this law. A signature campaign to endorse the law was initiated in Hong Kong in late May. Within eight days, almost three million Hong Kong residents signed online or at street stands to show their support. “The law is what the people really want,” Cui said. 

Cui said the four offenses under the law are secession, subversion, terrorist activities, collusion with foreign countries or external elements to endanger national security. This means that the law is highly targeted. It bans such criminal activities and protects the rule of law in Hong Kong and the legitimate rights and freedoms of the people there.

He said that Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life guaranteed by the Basic Law of Hong Kong will be better ensured, not changed, by the national security law. There are six chapters and 66 articles in the law. Cui advised the public to read the whole law thoroughly and carefully, so as to “avoid any misunderstanding or the influence of biases.” 

There are over seven million Hong Kong residents and over 80,000 American citizens living in Hong Kong. “The national security law will help ensure the restoration of social order in the city, and this is absolutely good news for all of them.”

He reiterated that Hong Kong belongs to China and Hong Kong affairs are China’s domestic affairs. “The Chinese government and people are fully determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to oppose external interference into Hong Kong affairs,” he said. He added that he has full confidence that the national security law will ensure the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.