After Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s safeguards tighten
A white paper on safeguarding China’s national security released a day after the sentencing of media mogul Jimmy Lai sends a clear signal: the government will not relent in its efforts to uphold national security in Hong Kong. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing speaks with academics to find out the implications.
A day after the sentencing of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai on 9 February for violating the Hong Kong national security law, China’s State Council Information Office released a white paper, stressing that Hong Kong’s fight to safeguard national security has never ceased. Interviewed academics said this move shows that even with the conclusion of the Jimmy Lai case, efforts to uphold national security in Hong Kong do not end there.
A ‘long-term and enduring task’
Titled “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”, the white paper is over 12,000 words long. Apart from the preface and conclusion, it is divided into five sections, covering topics such as the unrelenting fight for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong; the central government’s fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong; and Hong Kong’s achievements in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security.
The white paper stressed that the highest principle for Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” policy is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Amid Hong Kong’s turbulent circumstances, the central government has upheld the holistic approach to national security, and effectively exercised overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region (SAR) in accordance with the constitution and the Basic Law. It has enacted and implemented the Hong Kong national security law, and enforced the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”. Furthermore, the central government supports Hong Kong in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security by effectively preventing, halting and punishing any behaviour and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law.
... the verdict in the Lai case sends a “stern warning” to society, clarifying that any acts of colluding with external forces or endangering national security would be severely punished by law. — John Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Notably, the white paper mentioned that the Jimmy Lai case was a “verdict that upholds national security”, adding that as of January, 98 individuals were prosecuted under the Hong Kong national security law, of whom 78 were convicted. It stresses that Hong Kong’s endeavours in safeguarding national security are, “at their core, efforts to uphold and advance the One Country, Two Systems policy”. As China’s development environment is undergoing profound and complex changes, safeguarding national security “is a long-term and enduring task”. The central government firmly supports Hong Kong in continuously strengthening its national security shield, to ensure steady and sustained progress in the “one country, two systems” practice with high-standard security.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on 10 February that the white paper sets the record straight and strengthens confidence, thoroughly reviewing Hong Kong’s national security practices, and providing an in-depth explanation of the central government’s principled stance. The spokesperson hailed the white paper as holding “profound and far-reaching significance” for the full, accurate and unwavering implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy, and for underpinning its high-quality development with high-standard security.
Ensuring the city’s long-term stability
During a media conference on the same day, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said that he welcomed the white paper, describing it as highly significant and timely. He added that the SAR government would fully support and implement the contents and requirements of the white paper.
Lee pointed out that the verdict in the Lai case sends a “stern warning” to society, clarifying that any acts of colluding with external forces or endangering national security would be severely punished by law.
On 9 February, Lai’s son Sebastien Lai called on the British government to do “much more” to secure the release of his elderly father. He criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to make the case a priority in restarting UK–China relations.
Hung Wing Lok, lecturer at the School of Governance and Policy Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told Lianhe Zaobao that the publication of the white paper the day after Lai’s sentencing reflected the central government’s unswerving commitment to safeguarding national security. “Even after the conclusion of the Jimmy Lai case, Hong Kong’s direction and relevant work on safeguarding national security does not end there,” he said.
“For the Chinese government, safeguarding national security is key. The efforts of Sebastien Lai, international organisations and multiple foreign governments speaking out would only backfire, leading the central government in Beijing to see this as collusion with external forces to interfere in China’s internal affairs.” — Hung Wing Lok, Lecturer, School of Governance and Policy Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hung felt that the chances of Sebastien Lai and Western societies successfully securing assistance for — or even the release of — Jimmy Lai were slim. He said, “For the Chinese government, safeguarding national security is key. The efforts of Sebastien Lai, international organisations and multiple foreign governments speaking out would only backfire, leading the central government in Beijing to see this as collusion with external forces to interfere in China’s internal affairs.”
Hung expressed that Hong Kong already has the national security law and Article 23 legislation in place, and he believes that Western countries would find it difficult to use Hong Kong as an easy platform to undermine China’s national security. However, given the current severe and complex international situation, he said that the Hong Kong government must still place emphasis on the economy and people’s livelihoods to ensure the city’s long-term stability.
The white paper in effect indicated that the central government would not relax its efforts to safeguard national security — instead, it will remain on high alert, continually preventing and responding to threats and retaliating against hostile forces. — Lau Siu-kai, Consultant, Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies
Hong Kong to remain on high alert
Lau Siu-kai, consultant for the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that given the current harsh international environment and the West’s unrelenting desire to contain China, Western countries would continue to make use of Hong Kong as well as other means to endanger the security of both the country and the city. The white paper in effect indicated that the central government would not relax its efforts to safeguard national security — instead, it will remain on high alert, continually preventing and responding to threats and retaliating against hostile forces.
He said that the conclusion of the Jimmy Lai case marked a fundamental end of a prolonged period of turmoil in Hong Kong since its return to China. Hong Kong has now moved from a phase of stability to prosperity, making it an appropriate time to reflect on the past and look towards the future. However, the various threats to national security would not disappear and Hong Kong must remain on high alert.
This article was first published in Lianhe Zaobao as “中国国务院强调香港维护国安斗争从未停止”.
