Hong Kong's journey from "chaos to order" and onward to "stability to prosperity" has made one thing abundantly clear: sustained security is the very condition for sustained development. Security is not a "tightening hoop" that constrains — it is a "talisman" and a "booster." It not only provides the most solid foundation for development but also generates new dividends of development in its own right.
Today, under the leadership of Chief Executive John Lee, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the HKSAR have resolutely fulfilled their constitutional responsibilities for safeguarding national security, continuously laying a foundation of high-level security for high-quality development. The HKSAR made history by completing the legislation under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law — the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council — which, together with the National Security Law, forms a solid bulwark for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" has been fully implemented, and the governing power of the HKSAR is firmly in the hands of patriots. The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR has earnestly shouldered its primary responsibility and strengthened overall coordination and planning. With the concerted efforts of the entire society, Hong Kong's legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security have been continuously improved, and its capabilities have steadily grown.
The city's law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial authorities have acted fearlessly and with utmost dedication, cracking down on acts endangering national security in accordance with the law. In the face of attacks and smears from hostile forces at home and abroad waged through public opinion, the HKSAR Government has responded promptly and forcefully to expose and refute them. In response to anti-China disruptors who have fled overseas and continued to openly violate the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force has lawfully issued arrest warrants and taken penalty measures against those designated as fugitives. Patriots from all sectors have carried forward their fine traditions and waged a resolute struggle against actions and rhetoric that undermine, defame, or destabilize Hong Kong. Events such as "National Security Education Day" on April 15 have been held continuously, and a permanent National Security Exhibition Gallery has been opened to promote national security education in schools, communities, and at the grassroots level, with particular emphasis on youth education. The understanding that "only when the nation is secure can Hong Kong be secure, and only when the nation is secure can every family be safe" has taken deep root in people's hearts, and the entire society has coalesced into a powerful force for safeguarding national security.
Thanks to the protection of this stable environment, Hong Kong's economy has accelerated across the board. In 2025, Hong Kong retained its title as the world's freest economy, maintained its position as the world's third-ranked international financial center, and rose to fourth globally in talent competitiveness. In 2026, Hong Kong became the world's largest cross-border wealth management center and ranked second in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. With a robust GDP growth of 5.9 percent in the first quarter of 2026, the HKSAR Government recently raised its full-year growth forecast from the earlier estimate of 2.5–3.5 percent to 3.5–4.5 percent. Even more encouraging and anticipated is the fact that Hong Kong is now working intensively to formulate its First Five-Year Plan, which will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This plan will prioritize the Northern Metropolis as a strategic focal point, leverage university towns as a springboard to promote the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve people's livelihoods across the board — in particular, addressing the housing problem by phasing out subdivided flats and cage homes — so as to consolidate and elevate Hong Kong's status as an international hub for finance, shipping, and trade, accelerate the building of an international center for science and technology innovation, and establish itself as a high ground for attracting top-tier global talent.
Today, the international community and global investors are increasingly recognizing Hong Kong as a "safe harbor" — one that is also a "harbor of growth." Security has become an advantage of Hong Kong's development. All objective and rational observers can see with perfect clarity that Hong Kong's efforts to safeguard national security are aimed at enabling better development for Hong Kong, better lives for its residents, and better protection of investors' lawful rights and interests. Foreign investors have all expressed that Hong Kong's national security safeguards have injected strong stability, certainty, and sustainability into the market. Far from deterring foreign capital, these robust security measures have enhanced clarity, predictability, and long-term confidence.
In 2025, more than 2,700 single-family offices were established in Hong Kong, with over half managing assets in excess of US$50 million. The number of companies operating in Hong Kong with parent companies based overseas or in the mainland exceeded 11,000, reaching a record high. The number of foreign nationals granted employment visas in Hong Kong in 2025 exceeded 31,000, more than double the figure from five years ago.
Standing at a new starting point, Hong Kong is now entering its best period of development. Yet the more ambitious the development goals and the brighter the vision, the more we must never lower our guard on security. We must firmly uphold the principle that both development and security are imperatives. By pursuing high-quality development as our top priority while also safeguarding national security as a matter of paramount importance, and by effectively using high-level security to safeguard high-quality development, Hong Kong will surely move steadily and confidently along the broad road from stability to prosperity, and shine even more brilliantly in the great journey of building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation.
Comment