“The central government shows high trust in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the SAR government,” HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam reiterated at a press conference on July 7 before attending the Executive Council meeting.

Lam gave detailed information at the press conference on work of the HKSAR government since the promulgation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, and reassured reporters that the central government has shown high trust in the SAR government in various procedures from the establishment of relevant agencies to the composition of personnel.

National security is a matter belonging to the powers of the central government, which is an indisputable fact in all sovereign states. It means that the Chinese central government has direct jurisdiction over all criminal cases take place in Hong Kong that endanger the country’s national security.

Nevertheless, based on the “one country, two systems” principle and its respect for the independent judicial power and the power of final adjudication of the SAR government, the central government of China has made Hong Kong take the main responsibility for relevant cases. 

The move has shown the greatest trust of the central government in the SAR government, for seldom had any country put a local government in charge of national security affairs like China has done.

The genuine trust has also been demonstrated in the design of concrete systems.

Hong Kong has established the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR in accordance with the newly introduced national security law. 

The committee is expected to make work plans, formulate policies, and coordinate major work and important operations for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

The SAR has also established specialized departments, arranged special resources, and designated professional staff for the handling of relevant cases in every link from law enforcement and prosecution to trial.  

In addition, it has been made clear that the SAR has jurisdiction over most of the cases defined in the new national security law, and that the central government will only help handle certain cases when the SAR government is not able to cope with them properly. 

Obviously, the central government has put Hong Kong in charge of most of the job and the cases.

In this way, how can the principles of “one country, two systems”, “the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong”, as well as a high degree of autonomy be destroyed or undermined? 

On the contrary, these principles have been reinforced and underpinned by the national security legislation for Hong Kong.

In fact, some people didn’t put forward those specious arguments because they didn’t know the facts. They just did it out of habit.

These people had adapted themselves to the city’s “unguarded” condition in national security, and got used to doing whatever they want in a defenseless Hong Kong.

That’s exactly why they have always racked their brains to demonize and obstruct the adoption of the national security provision of Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and spared no effort to attack the national security legislation for Hong Kong.

Changes are inevitable as China makes efforts to plug the legal loopholes regarding safeguarding national security in Hong Kong.   

It’s totally understandable that some would feel a bit puzzled or find themselves not able to get used to changes for the moment.

However, it must be grasped that it is absolutely imperative to make the new move and that these changes are beneficial to Hong Kong and its citizens.

Hong Kong can never enjoy stability and order if black-clad rioters go on the rampage in the city.

When the city was not able to safeguard national security through legislation on its own, the chaos and violence in Hong Kong could be put to an end by no one but the central government.

The city has been brought back to the right track because of the national security law, which was a timely solution to the disorder and chaotic situation in Hong Kong. 

As a matter of fact, the central government has given full consideration to the actual needs and situation of the SAR before the introduction of the law, which was why people said that the law represents the legal arrangements with the least impact and the greatest effect when they saw the statement on the draft of the law.

As it turned out, those previous concerns and worries about the new law were actually unnecessary.

While enjoying high trust from the central government, the SAR government is ready to shoulder its responsibilities for safeguarding national security.

Recently, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has convened its first meeting, and the Hong Kong Police Force and the Department of Justice of the SAR have set up specialized departments for cases concerning national security. Relevant people of these departments have also started to take on their new roles.

The tight schedule of the SAR government indicates a good beginning for the city’s endeavor to play the main role in safeguarding national security in the region.

Surely there will be difficulties and challenges on the journey, but it’s firmly believed that the city will forge ahead despite wind and rain.