Hong Kong will celebrate the National Security Education Day on April 15 in an environment that differs greatly from last year’s.
First, Hong Kong has over the past year ushered in a new Election Committee and the seventh-term Legislative Council under the improved electoral system, bringing the precept of “patriots administering Hong Kong” into reality. The improved electoral system works in tandem with the National Security Law for Hong Kong to effectively safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as ensuring Hong Kong’s long-term stability and prosperity. These are the objectives of “one country, two systems”.
However, more than 20 years into the reunification, “one country, two systems” has been ruthlessly exploited by some Western Sinophobes and their proxies in Hong Kong to disrupt China’s rise. National sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and stability have been repeatedly threatened by political turmoil created by the subversive forces who took advantage of the loopholes in the city’s national security legislation and electoral system.
With all the loopholes being fixed followed by the return of peace and normalcy, I believe more Hong Kong residents will participate this year in National Security Education Day activities, which are helpful to enhancing residents’ understanding of its relevance to Hong Kong.
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Second, this year’s Education Day coincides with the 25th anniversary of the reunification and the election of a new administration under the “patriots administering Hong Kong” precept, which assuredly enriches the significance of the event. As of now, former chief secretary for administration John Lee Ka-chiu has been nominated to run to be the next chief executive.
It is hoped that National Security Education Day activities will help better prepare Hong Kong to fully and accurately implement “one country, two systems”
While he was serving as the security chief and subsequently the secretary for administration, Lee made remarkable contributions to the suppression of the black-clad riots and the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, for which he has been widely lauded.
Lee is gifted in his multifaceted experience in administration. As a senior civil servant, he is cognizant of the strengths and weaknesses of Hong Kong’s civil service system. As a principal official overseeing the security of the city, he is a high-caliber administrator who knows how to maintain law and order and safeguard the city from harm. As the former second-in-command of the incumbent administration, he faithfully and vigorously implemented policies tackling existing problems or addressing future needs.
When Lee announced his decision to run to be the next chief executive, he made clear that the next five years will be a critical period for Hong Kong to march toward stability and prosperity underpinned by good governance. He laid down three objectives — resolving various deep-seated issues with a result-oriented approach, increasing the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong, and building a firm foundation for Hong Kong’s development.
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The decision to run for chief executive, as he put it, is born of his loyalty to his country, his love for Hong Kong and his sense of duty to Hong Kong people. If he is elected, talents will be recruited and mighty teams will be formed, stressing that the new government must deliver results and make achievements.
Lee is likely to be elected and lead Hong Kong toward stability and prosperity in the next five years. I am confident that Hong Kong will robustly uphold the National Security Law and legislate according to Article 23 of the Basic Law as early as possible to reinforce the bulwark that protects national sovereignty, security and development interests while the new administration will step up efforts to roll out results-oriented initiatives for resolving the deep-seated problems, particularly the land and housing shortage.
Despite the sustained effort to iron out the land and housing shortage since the fourth-term administration, the situation continues to deteriorate. The vested-interest groups and cumbersome procedures are the two stumbling blocks adding intransigence to the problem. For Lee, having minimal affiliation with the business sector means he is unencumbered by sectional interests when it comes to policy-making. His results-oriented pledge means he is determined to streamline unnecessary procedures.
Hong Kong has been struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, during which an acute economic recession struck the city. Many residents have either been unemployed or seen their family members suffering a marked reduction in income. They desperately hope to see light at the end of the tunnel. The incumbent administration has earmarked billions of public funds to provide temporary unemployment subsidies and a total of HK$15,000 ($1,914) in consumption vouchers for all eligible residents, along with other short-term economic relief measures. But at the end of the day, Hong Kong has to rely on economic progress to revive the lifeline of both households and enterprises.
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The new chief executive and new governing team are tasked with a daunting mission to enhance residents’ sense of fulfillment, contentment and happiness.
It is hoped that National Security Education Day activities will help better prepare Hong Kong to fully and accurately implement “one country, two systems”, and that Hong Kong will reach another milestone in preserving national sovereignty, security and development interests by having enacted legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law when Hong Kong launches the National Security Education Day next year; such an achievement will also contribute significantly to ensuring the city’s long-term stability and prosperity.
The author is a senior research fellow of China Everbright Holdings.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.