Carrie Lam: Sovereignty bottom line of 'One Country, Two Systems'

APD NEWS

text

China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are seen fluttering on the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, south China, August 5, 2019. /Xinhua

Carrie Lam, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Friday described safeguarding the country's sovereignty as the "untouchable bottom line" for the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in the HKSAR.

Addressing an online seminar on China's annual Constitution Day, Lam said national security is a top priority for every country.

"Safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and development interests is the fundamental purpose of the constitution and the untouchable bottom line of 'One Country, Two Systems,'" she said.

"As an inseparable part of China, the HKSAR has clear responsibilities to safeguard national security," she added.

Themed "Constitution and National Security," the seminar was held by the HKSAR government with support from the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and the Endeavour Education Center.

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR took effect on June 30.

Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office, also addressed the seminar, saying the implementation of the national security law has achieved initial results.

Noting that Hong Kong is at a critical period to end the chaos and restore order, Luo said many articles in the law need to be transformed into enforcement mechanisms and the code of conduct for residents in the city, calling on concerted efforts from administrative, law enforcement and judicial sectors to implement the law.