On the 10th, the State Council Information Office of China released a white paper titled "Practice of Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong under 'One Country, Two Systems.'"
Excluding the preface and conclusion, the white paper is divided into five sections: The Unceasing Struggle to Safeguard National Security in Hong Kong; The Central Government's Fundamental Responsibility for National Security Affairs Related to Hong Kong; The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Earnestly Fulfilling Its Constitutional Responsibility to Safeguard National Security; Hong Kong Moving from Chaos to Governance to Prosperity; and Escorting the High-Quality Development of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Cause with a High Level of Security.
The Struggle to Safeguard National Security in Hong Kong Has Never Ceased
The white paper emphasizes that, in the new era, with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has thoroughly, accurately, and unwaveringly implemented the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy, stressing that safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests is the highest principle of this policy. Facing the turbulent and changing situation in Hong Kong, the central government has adhered to an overall national security concept, effectively exercised comprehensive governance over the Special Administrative Region in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, enacted and implemented the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region National Security Law, enforced the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong,' supported the HKSAR in earnestly fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and lawfully and effectively prevented, stopped, and punished acts and activities endangering national security. Hong Kong has thus entered a new stage of moving from chaos to governance and then towards prosperity, showing bright prospects.
The white paper points out that the practice of safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is, in essence, the practice of upholding and developing the cause of 'One Country, Two Systems,' the practice of protecting the fundamental human rights, dignity, and well-being of 7.5 million Hong Kong residents, and the practice of promoting world peace and development. As the world undergoes accelerating changes unseen in a century, the environment for China's development faces profound and complex changes; safeguarding national security is always ongoing, never finished. The central government firmly supports the HKSAR in fully and accurately implementing the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy, resolutely shouldering the constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and continuously consolidating the barrier for national security, thus ensuring the steady and long-term advance of the 'One Country, Two Systems' practice with a high level of security.
The white paper stresses that with a high level of security, Hong Kong will surely overcome the risks and challenges on the road ahead and remain rock-solid in an unstable and turbulent world; with a high level of security, Hong Kong will surely be able to proactively discern, adapt to, and seek changes, widely build social consensus, break new ground for development through reform, and achieve long-term stability and enduring prosperity; with a high level of security, Hong Kong will surely give full play to the institutional advantages of 'One Country, Two Systems,' better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and create new brilliance and make new contributions in comprehensively promoting China's modernization, building a great country, and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.