HONG KONG, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The enactment of Article 23 goes to
the very heart of what "One Country, Two Systems" is all about, a Hong Kong
official said Saturday.
Speaking at a Hong Kong University Conference on National Security
Legislation, Acting Permanent Secretary for Security Timothy Tong noted that
they undoubtedly have a moral obligation to legislate on their own to protect
the security of the country, as Hong Kong is a special administrative region of
China.
"We also have a constitutional and legal duty to do so under the
Basic Law, which we must not forget is a national law of China," he added.
Talking about the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill
which is under examination at the Legislative Council, Tong pointed out that
while the "Two Systems" principle allows for the continuation of their way of
life, it is clear the subject of the protection is the common interest of "One
Country", regardless of one's political views or ideological aspirations.
"The requirement imposed under Article 23 is clear and reasonable -
to protect the security of our country using our own Hong Kong laws," he said.
The National Security Bill has been drafted with the protection of
human rights uppermost, Tong said, adding that it is stated not once, but three
times, that all its provisions must be interpreted, applied and enforced
consistent with Chapter III of the Basic Law, and consistent with international
standards on the rights and freedoms of the individual.
According to him, the Basic Law is probably unique amongst other
better-cited constitutions, in that it affords equal protection for the rights
and freedoms of all residents in Hong Kong, without any prerequisites for
nationality or citizenship.
The consultation on the enactment of Article 23 that took place from
September to December last year was one of the largest ever conducted in Hong
Kong, during which two points are beyond dispute, Tong stressed.
First, the full results of the consultation have been revealed to the
public in the clearest and most objective manner possible. Second, a majority of
people supported the constitutional duty to legislate to protect national
security, Tong pointed out.Enditem
