Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security
(Adopted at the Third Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress on May 28, 2020)
The bill on the Draft Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security, as submitted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation, was deliberated at the Third Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress. According to the Session, in recent years, the national security risk in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been prominent, various illegal activities such as "Hong Kong independence," secession, and violent terrorist activities have seriously endangered national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and some foreign and overseas forces have blatantly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and exploited Hong Kong to engage in activities that endanger the national security of China. For the purposes of defending national sovereignty, security, and development interests, upholding and improving the institutional framework for "one country, two systems," maintaining the permanent prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents, the National People's Congress hereby decides, in accordance with Article 31 and Article 62 (2), (14) and (16) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , as follows:
I . The state will unswervingly, fully, and faithfully implement the policies of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy, adhere to governing Hong Kong according to the law, maintain the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region established by the Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region , take necessary measures to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to protect national security, and prevent, stop, and punish acts and activities that endanger national security according to the law.
II . The state resolutely opposes the interference in the affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by any foreign and overseas forces in any form, and will take necessary countermeasures, and prevent, stop and punish the exploitation of Hong Kong by foreign and overseas forces for secession, subversion, infiltration, and sabotage activities in accordance with the law.
III . It is the constitutional responsibilities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall complete as early as possible the legislation for safeguarding national security as stipulated in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region . The executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, effectively prevent, stop and punish acts and activities that endanger national security.
IV . The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall establish and improve institutions and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, reinforce the law enforcement force for safeguarding national security, and strengthen enforcement actions to safeguard national security. The relevant organs for safeguarding national security of the Central People's Government will establish institutions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as necessary to perform duties related to safeguarding national security in accordance with the law.
V . The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall regularly submit reports to the Central People's Government on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region performing its duties to safeguard national security, delivering national security education, and prohibiting acts and activities that endanger national security according to the law, among others.
VI . The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is authorized to formulate relevant laws on the establishment and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security, so as to effectively prevent, stop and punish any secession, subversion of state power, organization of terrorist activities, and other acts and activities that seriously endanger national security as well as activities of foreign and overseas forces to interfere in the affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will make the decision to include the aforesaid relevant laws in Annex III of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , which shall be issued and implemented locally by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
VII . This Decision shall come into force on the date of issuance.