驻哥打基纳巴卢总领事梁才德：香港国安法是维护香港长治久安与繁荣稳定的基石（中英文）

近日，驻哥打基纳巴卢总领事梁才德在《星洲日报》《诗华日报》《亚洲时报》《华侨日报》《婆罗洲邮报》《每日快报》等马来西亚和沙巴州主流中英文媒体上发表署名文章《香港国安法是维护香港长治久安与繁荣稳定的基石》，详细介绍《中华人民共和国香港特别行政区维护国家安全法》有关情况，帮助沙巴各界全面、客观、准确地认识和理解香港国安法。全文如下：

　　5月28日，中国第十三届全国人大三次会议高票通过《全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定》。6月30日，在香港回归23周年前夕，中国全国人大常委会通过《中华人民共和国香港特别行政区维护国家安全法》，并将该法列入香港基本法附件三，由香港特别行政区在当地公布实施。香港国安法共66条，分为6章，规定了香港特别行政区维护国家安全的职责和机构，明确了危害国家安全的四类罪行和处罚，正式建立起香港维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制。

　　最近常有沙巴的朋友问我，香港国安立法是否会影响中央政府对香港“一国两制”、高度自治的政策，是否会损害香港繁荣与自由等等。为帮助大家更好地理解香港国家安全立法，我在这里就朋友们最关心的几个问题进行简要说明。

　　一、中国为什么要制定香港国安法？

　　2019年6月以来，旷日持久的街头暴力和社会动荡给香港笼上一层阴影，关心和爱护香港的人无不因此感到痛心疾首。“港独”组织和本土激进分离势力的活动日益猖獗，袭击、纵火、破坏等暴力恐怖活动不断升级，严重破坏了香港的安全与稳定，有人甚至公然鼓吹“港独”，打出卖国标语。外国反华势力利用香港作为遏制中国的“桥头堡”，勾结少数乱港分子恶意制造祸乱，不断升级已具有明显的本土恐怖主义性质的暴力活动，严重冲击了香港经济民生根基。香港不仅痛失保持了25年的全球最自由经济体地位，地区生产总值也在十年来首次出现负增长，失业率创下新高，香港陷入回归以来最危急的局面。

　　香港之乱，病根在于国家安全堤防存在漏洞。香港基本法第23条规定，授权香港特区就维护国家安全自行立法。但23年来，由于反中乱港势力勾连阻挠，相关立法迟迟未能完成，导致香港在维护国家安全方面法律制度空白，执行机制缺失，长期处于“不设防”状态。国家安全是一个国家的头等大事，没有任何一个国家会任由本国领土上危害国家安全的行为肆意横生，坐视国家安全保障机制存在漏洞而无所作为。中央政府对维护国家安全负有最大和最终的责任，从国家层面建立健全香港特区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制，是对香港社会主流民意诉求与期盼的切实回应，是促使香港转危为安、变乱为治、绝境重生的核心举措，是维护香港长治久安与繁荣稳定的治本之策，也为整个中国的国家安全构筑起更加坚固的法律屏障。

　　二、香港国安法违反“一国两制”政策吗？

　　1997年，香港开启“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的新时代。香港自此依法享有行政管理权、立法权、独立的司法权和终审权，继续保持原有的资本主义制度和生活方式不变。实践充分证明，“一国两制”不仅是解决香港问题的最佳方案，也是香港回归后保持长期繁荣稳定的最佳制度安排。坚定不移地推进“一国两制”事业，符合中国的根本利益，也符合包括外国投资者在内国际社会的共同利益。

　　香港国安法不仅完全符合“一国两制”方针，并将保障“一国两制”行稳致远。“一国两制”是一个完整概念，“一国”是“两制”的前提，“两制”从属和派生于“一国”。只有“一国”安全，“两制”才有保障。何为“一国”，它既体现在中国对香港恢复行使主权，也体现在中央政府对香港拥有全面管治权。制定香港国安法，正是为了巩固“一国两制”根基，确保“一国两制”沿着正确方向前进。国家安全有保障，香港的长期发展和稳定才有保障。

　　三、香港国安法会损害香港的繁荣与自由吗？

　　23年来，回到祖国怀抱的香港紧紧地依托内地，不仅成功抵御了亚洲金融危机、非典疫情、新冠疫情等挑战的冲击，其国际金融、贸易、航运中心的地位也不断得到巩固，经济、民生等各项事业取得长足进步。放眼全球，纽约、伦敦、东京、新加坡等国际金融中心所在国家无一不早早订立了国安法律，有些甚至拥有全世界最多的国安条例，但其外国投资未受任何影响。过去一年的严峻事实已证明，社会动荡才是影响投资者信心的最大敌人，国家安全得不到维护，香港繁荣稳定就无从谈起。香港国安法施行后，香港实行的资本主义制度不会变，特区法律制度不会变。相反，香港法治环境和营商环境将更好地得到维护，世界各国人士到香港经商、工作和生活将享有更稳定安宁的环境。国安法实施后首个交易日，香港股市大涨2.85%，香港交易所离岸金融产品创3个月以来最大增幅，这充分表明，广大投资者对香港国安法出台充满信心和期待。

　　香港国安法针对的是国家安全体系中最突出的风险点，法律规管的是分裂国家、颠覆国家政权、恐怖活动、勾结外国或境外势力危害国家安全的四类罪行。该法第四条明确规定：“香港特别行政区维护国家安全应当尊重和保障人权，依法保护香港特别行政区居民根据香港特别行政区基本法和《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》《经济、社会与文化权利的国际公约》适用于香港的有关规定享有的包括言论、新闻、出版的自由，结社、集会、游行、示威的自由在内的权利和自由。”可以说，对于那些危害国家安全的极少数人，这部法律是高悬的利剑；对于绝大多数香港居民包括在港外国人来说，这部法律是保障其权利自由和安宁生活的“守护神”，他们将继续享受充分的民主自由，其拥有的各项公民权利不少于任何一个西方国家。

　　四、为什么少数西方国家对香港国安法横加干涉？

　　对于香港国安立法的决定，美英等少数西方国家反应强烈，对中国维护自身国家安全的举措肆意攻击，妄称违反《中英联合声明》和中方国际义务，甚至不惜出台损人不利己的所谓“制裁”措施。事实上，中华人民共和国自成立以来，始终致力于维护国际法和国际关系基本准则，认真履行自身承担的国际责任和义务，参加了100多个政府间国际组织，签署了500多个多边条约。中国从未“退群”、“毁约”，从不谋求本国利益优先。“不履行国际义务”的帽子扣不到中国头上。中英两国1984年签署的《中英联合声明》是关于中国收回香港及有关过渡期安排的文件，随着1997年香港回归中国，《中英联合声明》涉及英方的条款已经履行完毕。中国在联合声明中做出的承诺也已充分体现在全国人大制定的基本法中，并得到了全面贯彻。

　　香港是中国的特别行政区，香港事务纯属中国内政。这样一个基本的事实，却被某些国家和势力“有意”地忽略了。《中英联合声明》没有赋予英国或者其他任何国家对香港特别行政区承担任何责任，中国之外的任何国家对香港无主权、无治权、无监督权，《中英联合声明》不能成为西方国家干涉香港事务的借口。某些国家针对中国出台制裁措施，甚至扬言改变对香港“英国国民（海外）护照”（BNO）持有者的安排，这不仅是对中国内政的粗暴干涉，也是对国际关系基本准则的公然践踏。少数国家对香港国安法上蹿下跳，而自己的国家安全法却更加严格，恐怕他们真正关心的并不是香港居民的自由，而是为所欲为破坏中国国家安全的“自由”。公道自在人心，中国制订香港国安法，得到了国际社会正义力量的坚定支持，不久前联合国人权理事会第44届会议上，70多个国家表态支持香港国安立法即是明证。

　　五、结语

　　香港国安法的实施，为“一国两制”行稳致远提供了强大支撑，为香港居民权利和自由提供了坚实保障，堪称“一国两制”实践进程中的重要里程碑，具有重大现实意义和深远历史意义。我坚信，在中国中央政府的坚强领导下，在包括广大香港同胞在内的全体中国人民的共同努力下，在香港国安法的有力保障下，“东方之珠”的明天一定会更加安全、更加美好、更加繁荣！

文章英文原文如下：

Why Hong Kong needs the National Security Law

On May 28, the 13th National People’s Congress of China (NPC) adopted at its Third Session the NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR).

On June 30, the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the founding of HKSAR, the Standing Committee of NPC passed the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, and listed it under Annex III of the Basic Law, which was announced and implemented locally by the HKSAR.

With 66 articles, the National Security Law has six chapters, stipulates the duties and the Government Bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security, clarifies four types of offenses and penalties that endanger national security, and officially establishes Hong Kong’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for maintaining national security .

Recently, friends from Sabah often asked me whether Hong Kong’s new national security law will affect the central government’s policy of One Country, Two Systems and a high degree of autonomy, and whether it will harm Hong Kong’s prosperity and freedom. To help you to better understand the National Security Legislation for HKSAR, I will briefly explain a few issues that my friends are most concerned of.

Why did China enact the National Security Legislation for HKSAR?

Since June 2019, the protracted street violence and social unrest has cast a shadow on Hong Kong, and everyone who cares about Hong Kong feels heartbroken.

The activities of the “Hong Kong Independence” organization and the radical local separatist forces are rampant. Attacks, arson, destruction, and other violent terrorist activities have been escalating, which has seriously damaged the safety and stability of Hong Kong. Some people even openly advocated “Hong Kong Independence” and held high the quisling slogan.

Foreign anti-China forces use Hong Kong as a “bridgehead” to contain China, collude with a few destabilizing rioters in Hong Kong to maliciously create scourges. Intensifying violent activities that have apparent local terrorist nature has seriously affected the ground of Hong Kong’s economy and people’s livelihood.

The turbulence has not only cost Hong Kong the title of the world’s freest economy, a title it had held for 25 years, its GDP contracted for the first time in a decade and unemployment hit a record high. Hong Kong has fallen into the most critical situation since its return.

The root cause of the chaos in Hong Kong is its national security was fraught with loopholes. Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law grants the HKSAR legislative authority to safeguard national security on its own.

Nearly 23 years, however, the relevant legislative process was still not materialized due to the obstruction by anti-China forces.

Hong Kong’s legal system for safeguarding national security was consequently blank, and in lack of enforcement mechanisms, it had been in a state of “undefended” for a long time. National security is the top priority of a country.

No country will allow acts that endanger national security on its own territory, or takes no action against loopholes in the national security safeguarding mechanisms. The central government holds the primary and ultimate responsibility for safeguarding national security.

The establishment and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR at the state level, is a practical response to the demands and expectations of mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong. It is the core measure to safeguard Hong Kong’s security from danger, turn chaos into order and bring hope to desperation.

It is also a fundamental policy to maintain the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong in building a stronger legal defense for the national security of China as a whole.

Does the National Security Legislation for HKSAR undermine One Country, Two Systems policy?

In 1997, Hong Kong ushered in a new era of One Country, Two Systems, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. Since then, Hong Kong has its executive, legislative and independent judiciary power, including that of final adjudication, and retained its capitalist system and way of life.

What has happened after its return fully demonstrates that the concept of One Country, Two Systems provides the best solution to the problems of Hong Kong, as well as the best institutional arrangement to ensure Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

Unswervingly advancing the cause of One Country, Two Systems conforms to China’s fundamental interests and the common interests of the international community, including foreign investors.

The National Security Legislation of HKSAR not only fully complies with the principle of One Country, Two Systems, but will also ensure the successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems.

One Country, Two Systems is an integrated concept, “One Country” is the premise of “Two Systems”, while “Two Systems” is subordinate to and derived from “One Country”.

Should the principle of “One Country” be upheld, “Two Systems” would be possible to practice.

The meaning of “One Country” is not only reflected in China resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, but also in the central government’s comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong.

The formulation of the National Security Legislation for HKSAR is precisely to consolidate the foundation of One Country, Two Systems and to ensure that One Country, Two systems is advancing in the right direction.

Only when national security is ensured can Hong Kong’s long-term development and stability be assured.

Will the National Security Legislation for HKSAR harm Hong Kong’s prosperity and freedom?

In the past 23 years, Hong Kong, which has returned to the embrace of the motherland, has closely relied on the mainland.

Having withstood the impact of the Asian financial crisis, the SARS epidemic and the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, Hong Kong has continuously emerged stronger as an international financial, shipping and trading center. Substantial advances in economy and society were made.

Looking around the world, all countries with international financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo, and Singapore have enacted national security laws earlier on, and some even have the most national security laws in the world, but their foreign investment has not been affected in any way.

The grim facts of the past year have evidenced that social turmoil is the biggest enemy that affects investor’s confidence. Enduring Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability would be out of the question without the safeguarding of the national security.

After the implementation of the National Security Legislation for HKSAR, neither the capitalist system nor its legal system will change.

On the contrary, Hong Kong’s political and business environment will be better maintained, and people from all over the world will enjoy a more stable and peaceful environment when they do business, work and live in Hong Kong.

Stocks in Hong Kong climbed 2.85pc on their first trading day since national security laws were imposed, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s offshore financial products recorded the biggest gain in three months.

It fully reflected the vast investors have full confidence and expectations for the promulgation of the National Security Legislation for HKSAR.

The National Security Legislation for HKSAR targets the most prominent risk points in the national security system.

The law criminalizes four types of acts: secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or with external forces to endanger national security and stipulates the corresponding penalties.

Article 4 of the law clearly stipulates: “Human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, which the residents of the Region enjoy under the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law.”

It can be said that, for the very few people who endanger the national security, this law is a high-hanging sword; for the vast majority of residents and foreigners in Hong Kong, this law is the “guardian angel” to safeguard their rights, freedom and peaceful life. They will continue to enjoy full democratic freedom, their civil rights are not less than any Western country.

Why do a few Western countries interfere with the National Security Legislation for HKSAR?

Regarding the decision on the National Security Legislation for HKSAR, a few Western countries such as the United States and United Kingdom have reacted strongly and reproached China’s measures to safeguard its own national security, claiming that it’s a violation against China’s international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and even to impose so-called “sanctions” measures that harm others without benefiting to themselves.

In fact, since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has always been committed to safeguarding the basic norms of international law and international relations, earnestly fulfilling its own international responsibilities and obligations, participating in more than 100 intergovernmental international organizations, and signing more than 500 multilateral treaties.

China has never “withdrawn from groups” or “breach contracts” and has never sought “us first” at the expense of others. That label is more suited to some other countries. The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed by China and the UK in 1984 is a document concerning China’s recovery of Hong Kong and relevant arrangements during the transition period.

As China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, all provisions concerning the UK under the Joint Declaration had been fulfilled. The commitments made by China in the Joint Declaration have also been fully embodied in the Basic Law enacted by the NPC and have been fully implemented.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and Hong Kong’s issues are purely China’s internal affairs. Such a common fact has been “intentionally” ignored by certain countries and forces. The Sino-British Joint Declaration does not assign the UK or any other countries any responsibility over HKSAR.

No country other than China has sovereignty, jurisdiction, or right of supervision over Hong Kong. The Sino-British Joint Declaration cannot be exploited as an excuse to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs by Western countries.

Some countries have introduced sanctions against China and even threatened to change the arrangements for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Passport (BNO) holders.

This is not only a gross interference in China’s internal affairs, but also a flagrant violation of the basic norms of international relations.

A few countries have been unease on Hong Kong’s national security laws, but their own national security laws are more stringent.

I am afraid what they really care about is not the freedom of Hong Kong’s residents, but the “freedom” that undermines China’s national security as they please.

China’s formulation of the National Security Legislation for HKSAR has received firm support from the righteous forces of the international community. Not long ago, at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, more than 70 countries expressed support for the National Security Legislation for HKSAR.

Conclusion

The implementation of the National Security Legislation for HKSAR has provided strong support for the enduring stability and development of One Country, Two Systems, as well as a solid assurance for the rights and freedoms for the residents of Hong Kong.

It can be determined as an important milestone in the process of One Country, Two Systems and has great immediate and profound historical significance. I am convinced that under the strong leadership of the Chinese Central Government, with the joint efforts of all people in China, including the vast fellow compatriots in Hong Kong, and the adequate protection of the National Security Legislation, the future of the “Pearl of the Orient” will be safer, better and more prosperous!