Safeguarding national security is the duty of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the Constitution. The Region shall perform the duty accordingly and undertake the following tasks in accordance with the National Security Law to maintain the security of the country:

Article 7 – Legislation

The HKSAR Government shall complete, as early as possible, legislation for safeguarding national security as stipulated in the Basic Law and shall refine relevant laws.

Every country enacts laws to safeguard national security, which is both an inherent right of sovereign states and aligns with international practice.

Article 8 – Enforcement

The HKSAR Government shall fully enforce the National Security Law and the laws in force in the Region concerning the prevention of, suppression of, and imposition of punishment for acts and activities endangering national security.

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force is the law enforcement agency established for safeguarding national security. The image above shows Senior Superintendent Li Kwai-wah of the Hong Kong Police National Security Department (currently the Chief Superintendent) briefed the media on a case endangering national security.

Article 9 – Prevention

The HKSAR Government shall strengthen its work on safeguarding national security and prevention of terrorist activities, highlighting the importance of prevention and actively taking measures for early intervention and risk mitigation.

Safeguarding national security is one of the top priorities for the Hong Kong Police Force. Investigations and law enforcement efforts are intelligence-led, aimed at enhancing public awareness of, and resilience against, domestic terrorism, with the goal of achieving citywide counter-terrorism efforts.

Article 9 – Publicity

The HKSAR Government shall take necessary measures to strengthen public communication, guidance, supervision, and regulation over matters concerning national security, including those relating to schools, universities, social organisations, the media, and the internet.

To enable collective efforts in safeguarding national security, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force also launched its official WeChat account, which includes a reporting feature and aims to publish information related to national security.

Article 10 – Education

The HKSAR Government shall promote national security education to raise the awareness of Hong Kong residents of national security and of the obligation to abide by the law.

Only by understanding the importance of national security can we ensure social prosperity and stability. The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force is organising activities in various locations across Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories, enhancing citizens’ understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law, and the Hong Kong National Security Law, and fostering a conducive atmosphere for safeguarding the security of the country.

Security is a prerequisite for development, and development is the foundation of security. Firmly safeguarding national security is the key to seizing development opportunities and ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems”.