This photo shows a view of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on June 11, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s aim to complete local legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law this year remains unchanged, given the potential national security risks and escalating global geopolitical tensions, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of a weekly Executive Council meeting, he said it’s the SAR's constitutional responsibility to conclude the legislation as soon as possible, as stipulated in the Basic Law of the SAR and the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

Lee warned there’re various and ever-changing factors that could endanger national security, and the public may not be fully aware of them. The grim and complex international situation also poses further threats to Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu warned there’re various and ever-changing factors that could endanger national security, and the public may not be fully aware of them. The grim and complex international situation also poses further threats to Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security

Therefore, the SAR has to comprehensively consolidate its mechanisms to protect national security, he said.

Lee hopes the entire process of legislating Article 23 could be completed this year or next year at the latest. The law will be enacted when the time is ripe.

ALSO READ: HK aims to pass local security law within two years

Lee’s remarks followed public discussions about the issue. Some social leaders have suggested that legislating Article 23 this year might not be suitable as Hong Kong is now focusing on reviving the local economy following the full resumption of links between the SAR and the Chinese mainland, as well as overseas countries and regions.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the SAR’s Legislative Council, said on Monday that although the SAR government’s earlier submission of the legislative agenda for this year did not include local legislation of Article 23, the government has informed the legislature it’ll continue with the process, and submit the bill to LegCo in due course. The legislature will prudently deliberate the bill later.

Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law requires the SAR to enact laws on its own to prohibit seven categories of acts that endanger national security, including treason, sedition, subversion and theft of State secrets.

Some of the crimes are already covered by the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which took effect on June 30, 2020, prohibiting secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security.

ALSO READ: Lee: SAR planning to finish local Article 23 legislation this year

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks at the Abu Dhabi-Hong Kong Business Forum and Networking Luncheon hosted by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Feb 7, 2023. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

'A journey to create business opportunities'

Meanwhile, the chief executive said ahead of Tuesday's ExCo meeting that the HKSAR government made 15 achievements during its delegation’s six-day trip to the Middle East.

The trip to the Middle East was “a journey to promote friendship, also a journey to promote the advantages of Hong Kong and a journey to create business opportunities,” Lee said.

The Saudi Arabian government agreed to start an initial negotiation on the signing and promotion of investment pacts, he said. The HKSAR government had also signed 13 memoranda of understanding or letters of intent covering financial services, innovation and technology, commercial services, energy and transport, Lee added.

Different sectors in Hong Kong welcomed the trip, the chief executive said, quoting media reports that representatives of architects believed the visit was useful for architectural service companies to expand their business to the Middle East, while tourism and business sectors termed the trip helpful in bringing visitors to the city.

We must focus on economic development. The SAR government will continue to do the best in telling the good stories about Hong Kong on the mainland and around the world.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive

Some sectors in the Middle East showed great interest in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and will invest in Hong Kong, said the CE.

Pointing out that the government had promoted the city’s opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, he said that it was, for the government, to leverage the city’s advantage as a connector between the mainland and the world.

ALSO READ: Boosting cooperation: HK leader to visit mainland GBA cities

“We must focus on economic development. The SAR government will continue to do the best in telling the good stories about Hong Kong on the mainland and around the world,” he said.

Regarding the earthquake in Türkiye, the chief executive said the government had collected relief items worth HK$30 million ($3.82 million), ranging from blankets and medical equipment to medication and tents.

Local residents had also donated about 100 tonnes in relief aids, which were transported to Türkiye on Monday night, he added.

Extending his full support to the HKSAR search and rescue team working in Türkiye, he expressed his admiration for the team’s hard work to help with the rescue efforts and save four people.

He also urged non-government organizations to join the relief efforts.

READ MORE: CE: HKSAR rescue team to make every effort in Türkiye

Asked about reports that it was hard for private car drivers to travel to the mainland and that there were no vehicle inspection arrangement, the chief executive said the government will liaise with relevant parties to ensure a smooth implement of the arrangement and continue to explore the issue with the mainland authority.