Q: What’s your comments for the inclusion in the agenda of the third plenary session of the 13th NPC of the draft decision on establishing and improving a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong SAR?

A: National security is the prerequisite for a country to survive and develop. In any country nowadays, legislation on national security belongs to the national legislative power and is within the authority of office of the central government. The central government not only bears the ultimate responsibility for the national security of the local administrative region to which it belongs but also enjoys and exercises all necessary powers. This is the basic theory and principle of national sovereignty, and is also a common practice in all countries of the world.

As the highest organ of state power, the National People's Congress (NPC) is the representative of national sovereignty. Given the national security situation that the HKSAR is facing and the fact that the legislation on national security is yet to materialize after long delays, the NPC decided to, in accordance with the power mandated by the Constitution, establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms from the state level for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, improve the systems and mechanisms related to the enforcement of the Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR. Especially under the current situation in the HKSAR, it is of great necessity and urgency for the NPC to advance the legislation work from the state level for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, allowing no delay.

For long, the opposition in Hong Kong has been attempting to seize the jurisdiction over the region, and scheming with external forces in carrying out all sorts of secessionist, subversive, infiltration and sabotage activities on the Chinese mainland. Such activities by the hostile forces, either from home or abroad, have caused real harm to China's national security and posed real threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which should be attached high importance and countered with strong measure.

Maintaining national security is the core of "one country, two systems". Establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism of the HKSAR to maintain national security at the state level will provide a solid legal guarantee for the "one country, two systems" to achieve stability, help prevent and control the security risks more effectively, help safeguard Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. This is not only in the interest of the general public of Hong Kong, but also in the interest of all foreigners in Hong Kong, including hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

We believe all Filipino friends can understand China's determination to safeguard reunification, ensure the steady and far-reaching implementation of "one country, two systems" and safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. We sincerely hope that the Filipino friends could view the Hong Kong issue in an objective and fair way and support the Central Government of China and the HKSAR Government to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.