Safeguarding national security crucial in SARs

A key meeting of the central leadership has called for better legislation and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

Governing Hong Kong and Macao based on the principle of "one country, two systems" is an important part of the country's comprehensive governance system, and it was on the agenda of the just-concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee, a senior legislator said on Friday.

"We must adhere to the principle that 'one country' is the premise and basis for the implementation of the 'two systems', and the 'two systems' is subordinated and derived from 'one country' and unified within it," said Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

"There's zero tolerance for any behavior that challenges the bottom line of 'one country, two systems', or any actions that intend to divide the country or harm national security," said Shen, also director of the NPC Standing Committee's HKSAR Basic Law Committee and Macao SAR Basic Law Committee.

"We'll resolutely guard against and contain external forces' interference in Hong Kong and Macao affairs, and their secessionist, subversive or infiltration activities," he said.

He made the remarks at a news conference organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee on the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which ran from Monday to Thursday in Beijing.

The session reviewed and adopted the CPC Central Committee's decision on some major issues about how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

A communique released after the session underscored that the country will uphold and improve the principle of "one country, two systems" and advance the process toward the peaceful reunification of China.

Shen said the decision, details of which have not yet been released, includes a section on how to adhere to and improve the "one country, two systems" mechanism.

Some major requirements include upholding the constitutional order in the special administrative regions decided by the country's Constitution and basic laws of the HKSAR and Macao SAR, improving the mechanism of appointing and removing chief executives and key officials of the SARs and intensifying the NPC Standing Committee's explanation of the two basic laws, Shen said.

The requirements also include setting up and improving legislation and enforcement mechanisms in Hong Kong and Macao to safeguard national security and support the SARs in enhancing their law enforcement capabilities, better integrating the development of Hong Kong and Macao into the country's overall growth, supporting the two SARs in improving people's livelihoods and solving deep-rooted problems that may influence their social stability and future development, he said.

The decision also underscores the significance of better educating people in Hong Kong and Macao, particularly civil servants and young people, about the country's Constitution, the basic laws and Chinese history and culture to improve their patriotism and sense of national identity, he said.