This year marks the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Chief Executive John Lee stated today (June 17) before the Executive Council meeting that he is pleased to see an overall decline in crimes related to national security, expressing confidence in continuing positive developments in national security maintenance.
Lee reflected on the events of 2019, when Hong Kong experienced a "color revolution" that severely disrupted social order. Citizens faced arbitrary violence and insults, and traffic was frequently obstructed, interfering with government operations. He recalled the painful memories of that year, noting that the implementation of the National Security Law has effectively quelled violence and restored stability, safety, and order in Hong Kong, allowing residents to live normally and the economy to develop. After five years of the National Security Law's enactment and the efforts of the police and other law enforcement agencies, Hong Kong's safety has not only been secured but also recognized globally, with recent reports ranking Hong Kong as the sixth safest city in the world.
Lee emphasized that when the National Security Law was enacted, it was made clear that the law targets a very small number of individuals who endanger national security. Over the past five years, law enforcement has arrested 332 people in connection with offenses related to national security. The police arrest approximately 30,000 individuals each year, with those related to the National Security Law accounting for only 0.2% of total arrests, reflecting the caution and seriousness exercised in enforcing the law, according to Lee.
Lee reiterated that the government will continue to combat actions that endanger national security in accordance with the relevant laws of the National Security Law, without hesitation. He expressed satisfaction at the overall decline in national security-related crimes, believing that with more social education, promotion, and exhibitions, the public will increasingly recognize the importance of national security and actively uphold it.
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