On 24 May 2020, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming joined a CCTV News on-line live discussion and answered the presenter’s question on the national security legislation for Hong Kong. The following is the Q&A.

Presenter: In media reports on the “Two Sessions”, namely, sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in the past few days, Hong Kong hit the headlines. This is due to the deliberation at the third session of the 13th NPC on the draft decision to establish a sound legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). Politicians from the West, including the US, threatened to “intervene” in Hong Kong. However, China firmly believes that Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference. Ambassador Liu, what is your comment on this?

Ambassador Liu: The deliberation on the draft decision by the third session of the 13th NPC is extremely important and timely. There shouldn’t be the slightest delay. It has three-fold significance.

First, it will plug the loophole in the national security legislation that has been there since Hong Kong’s handover. Twenty-three years after Hong Kong’s return to China, Article 23 of the Basic Law is yet to materialize and has been severely stigmatised and demonized. The other relevant laws of Hong Kong also remain dormant. This means Hong Kong has long been “defenseless” in terms of national security. By deliberating on this draft decision in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, the NPC is plugging the loophole in the national security legislation for Hong Kong. The draft decision is reasonable, effective and legitimate, and will serve as an institutional basis and security safeguard for the steady and sustained development of “One Country, Two Systems”.

Second, the draft decision will strengthen China’s capability of responding to external interference. The draft decision states clearly that the country resolutely opposes the interference in the affairs of the Hong Kong SAR by any foreign or external forces in any form and will take necessary counter-measures. We are fully aware that Hong Kong would not have experienced what it has since the turbulence over the proposed legislative amendments last June had it not been for the interference of external forces. These foreign forces have openly interfered in Hong Kong affairs in various forms, colluded with anti-China elements seeking to disrupt Hong Kong, clamoured for “Hong Kong independence”, “self determination” and “referendum”, and used Hong Kong as a base for undermining China’s national security. These activities have dealt a severe blow to the territorial security, political security and public security of Hong Kong, gravely undermined the rule of law in Hong Kong, and threatened the safety of life and property of Hong Kong citizens. It is high time such activities were stopped. The national security legislation for Hong Kong will enable us to have stronger legal support and more tools in this battle against external interference.

Third, the draft decision will consolidate our institutional support in dealing with foreign affairs involving Hong Kong. This legislation will give us legal support and confidence in safeguarding national security when it comes to foreign affairs. Take the UK for example. Due to historical reasons, the UK has close links with and significant interests in Hong Kong, which is home to more than 300,000 British citizens and over 700 British businesses. We have reiterated to the UK side that a stable and prosperous Hong Kong is in the interests of both China and the UK.

We have noticed that, since the turbulence over the proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong, the UK side interfered in Hong Kong affairs in some ways and undermined China-UK relations. In light of this, I held three press conferences on Hong Kong last year and explained China’s position to the UK Government and Parliament through bilateral meetings. I have also engaged the broader UK business community and media through discussions and interviews to help them with a right understanding of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy and urge them to observe the basic principles of China-UK relations and respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

You mentioned that some British media and politicians made noises regarding this legislation. We have explained our position to them and asked them to read the draft decision carefully so as to gain a correct understanding of this legislation. We also urge them to view this issue from an objective and just perspective, appreciate China’s position and concerns, respect China’s core interests, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and do more things that are conducive to the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and to China-UK relations, instead of doing the opposite.