简体中文
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam signs a petition in support of the national security legislation as she visits a street stand in Hong Kong, south China, May 28, 2020. (Xinhua)
- "Besides Hong Kong Basic Law, China has all the right to improve the legal system of Hong Kong to protect it from foreign intervention as part of safeguarding China's overall national security."
- "Foreign forces never seek any good for the countries they interfere in, and they would incite chaos and disorder in other countries if this achieves their own interests."
by Mahmoud Fouly
CAIRO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China must improve the legal system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to protect the region and its citizens from foreign intervention and consequent disorder, a legal expert has said.
"It is a matter of national security, and for any country, national security is life," Shawki al-Sayyid, former counselor at Egypt's State Council, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
On Thursday, Chinese lawmakers voted overwhelmingly at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, the top legislature, to approve a decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.
People signing a petition in support of the national security legislation pose for a photo at a street stand in Hong Kong, south China, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)
"China is the motherland and sponsor of Hong Kong. So, it has all the right to protect it and determine the means to achieve this protection against any possible disorder or foreign ambitions," al-Sayyid said.
The aim of foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs is to put pressure on China and obstruct its growing economic power, he added.
"The legal framework is one of the pillars of safeguarding national security, for it provides a legitimate basis for the measures and mechanisms of protection," al-Sayyid said.
Legal tools are the means to achieve this protection, said the expert, reiterating that China's protection of Hong Kong against foreign interference can be achieved through the improvement of its legal system.
People from all walks of life attend a campaign in support of national security legislation for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong, south China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 under the principle of "one country, two systems," ruling the territory by the Basic Law that was promulgated in advance in April 1990.
The Hong Kong Basic Law, along with the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislations, ensures the protection of human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the freedom of speech, the press, publication, association and assembly.
"Besides Hong Kong Basic Law, China has all the right to improve the legal system of Hong Kong to protect it from foreign intervention as part of safeguarding China's overall national security," al-Sayyid said.
The expert said that foreign intervention should be prevented by strengthening the legal system and the rule of law.
A rioter sets fire and destroys public facilities outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in south China's Hong Kong, Nov. 17, 2019. (Xinhua)
Foreign forces take the advantage of internal contradictions to incite disorder mostly for political or economic reasons, he said.
"Foreign forces never seek any good for the countries they interfere in, and they would incite chaos and disorder in other countries if this achieves their own interests," said al-Sayyid.
The expert said he believes that Hong Kong, with fast economic growth in a short time under China's leadership, is coveted by some hostile forces or states who seek to control it.
"If necessary legal measures are not taken to protect Hong Kong from foreign ambitions, it will surely undermine China's national security," he said.
