Hong Kong: China's new agency to monitor national security law implementation
Hong Kong: Despite violent protests and agitations, Chinese authorities have opened a new agency in Hong Kong city which will be engaged in monitoring the implementation of the newly enacted law on national security in the special administrative region, media reports said.
According to media reports, a four-star hotel in the city has been requisitioned and transformed into a new national security office.
Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay is now the temporary base for the Office for Safeguarding National Security. Chief Executive Carrie Lam, former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, China’s Liaison Office chief Luo Huining and the new agency’s head Zheng Yanxiong attended the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday at around 7am, reported Hong Kong Free Press.
Luo was appointed to advise Lam on national security matters following the enactment of controversial legislation that criminalises subversion, secession, foreign interference and terrorism, reported the newspaper.
In her address in Mandarin, Lam said Beijing demonstrated its care towards Hong Kong and had a determination to perfect One Country, Two Systems doctrine through the legislation.
“It is necessary for the central people’s government to reserve their power in handling the very few national security cases which the local government is not capable enough to handle,” she was quoted as saying by Hong Kong Free Press. “So as to ensure that national security is 100 per cent guaranteed under any circumstances.”
She said the city's government will coordinate with the newly established agency to enhance information sharing.
“The agency will advise, monitor, instruct, coordinate and support the Hong Kong government in fulfilling its duty to safeguard national security, collect and analyse information related to national security, and handle national security crimes in accordance with the law under specific circumstances," she said.
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