National security law for HK brings peace, order and hope to city

When Lee thought the city would be defeated and crash, central authorities devised the National Security Law for Hong Kong to enable the city to ride out the storm. The law, which categorized four types of serious national security offenses, was implemented on June 30, 2020.

This March, authorities also initiated improvements to the city's electoral system to ensure Hong Kong will have patriot-led administrations. Passed by Hong Kong's legislature on May 27, the revised system will be applied in future elections, affecting key components of the special administrative region's governing team, including the chief executive and legislators.

These measures have brought long-awaited peace and order to Hong Kong. On the first anniversary of the security law's implementation, the Security Bureau said 117 suspects had been arrested under the law, and over half of them had been prosecuted.

Activists who played a crucial role in the 2019 unrest, including media magnate Jimmy Lai Cheeying and student activists Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Agnes Chow Ting, were sentenced to prison for offenses related to the unrest. Lai got a 20-month sentence in May. Wong and Chow were sentenced in December to 13.5 months and 10 months, respectively.

The law also delivered a significant blow to street violence.

Citing the decreasing harassment against her after the National Security Law for Hong Kong was promulgated, Lee said it made her and other regular Hong Kong people feel secure, enabling residents to live and express views without fear.