Yang Wanming, vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court, said on Monday the National Security Law for Hong Kong embodies both “one country” and “two systems”, showcasing both the central government’s overall jurisdiction over the city and a high degree of autonomy it enjoys.  

It also addresses the need to safeguard national sovereignty as well as to protect the interests of residents of the special administrative region, he said. 

The enactment of the law, which safeguarded national security, is of great importance to the lasting prosperity and stability of the city, as well as the cause of “one country, two systems”, said Yang Wanming, vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court

In a video speech given at a high-level forum in Hong Kong, Yang said the enactment of the law, which safeguarded national security, is of great importance to the lasting prosperity and stability of the city, as well as the cause of “one country, two systems”.

The high-level online forum – aimed at deepening Hong Kong residents’ understanding of the SAR’s National Security Law – is a highlight of a series of events marking the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the law. 

The one-day event brought together leading local and international legal experts to discuss the application and interpretation of the security law.

ALSO READ: CE: Security law's effect on restoring HK order 'indisputable'

According to the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the SAR government takes up the main responsibility for safeguarding national security, which reflects the central government’s respect and trust of the SAR’s high degree of autonomy, Yang said in his video speech.

The central authorities exercise jurisdiction over a very small number of national security-related crimes, which shows their overall jurisdiction over the SAR and aims to safeguard national security in the worst-case scenario, he said.

Thus, the courts of Chinese mainland and Hong Kong should jointly undertake the statutory duty of safeguarding national security and guaranteeing the effective and comprehensive implementation of the security law, said Yang.

Delivering a keynote speech at the full-day forum, Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said over the past year, a major framework of safeguarding national security and a coordination mechanism with the central government to safeguard national security have been established in Hong Kong. 

The mechanisms to implement and enforce the law, as well as a judicial support system, were also founded. Besides, relevant work in education, internet and media regulation are also being actively carried forward, he said. 

He reckoned the law has effectively cracked down on disruptive activities, raised social awareness of national security, and prompted a positive change in political environment. 

READ MORE: One year on, National Security Law restores confidence in HK

Hong Kong’s change for the better proves the implementation of the National Security Law is “necessary, timely, and effective”, said Deng. “It is in line with the interests of both Hong Kong SAR and the nation.”

Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, stressed that to ensure a full and accurate implementation of the National Security Law, it should be enforced within the country’s overall strategy of safeguarding national security.

It should also be implemented within the framework of related decisions made by the National People’s Congress, the nation’s top legislature, he added.