国内英语新闻:Safeguarding national security important to Hong Kong's development: HKSAR gov't official

HONG KONG, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The contents relating to safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the outline of the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) for national Economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the Year 2035 reflects its importance to the development of the country and Hong Kong in the next five years, Secretary for security of the HKSAR government John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday.

The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) adopted the outline of the 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 in Beijing on Thursday.

Lee said that the outline of the 14th five-year plan requires the special administrative regions (SARs) to implement and defend the legal system and enforcement mechanisms so as to safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests and the social stability of the SARs as well as resolutely prevent external forces from interfering in Hong Kong and Macao affairs.

This fully reflects the actual situation in Hong Kong. When Hong Kong was faced with unrest and violence, the Standing Committee of the NPC passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR on June 30, 2020, which was promulgated and implemented by the HKSAR government on the same day. The law has had an immediate effect on curbing actions that endanger national security, Lee said.

Lee hoped that all the sectors of Hong Kong society will work together with the HKSAR government to safeguard national security and seize the opportunities generated from the 14th five-year plan so as to build a better future for the Hong Kong residents and the next generation.