Hong Kong Free Press
The passing of the Beijing-mandated national security law was a “glorious mission” though there are still “underground organisations advocating terrorism,” Hong Kong’s incumbent leader Carrie Lam has said.
Speaking at a legal forum on the national security law, Lam said the legislation punished illegal activity endangering China’s security and restored stability in the city following months of violence linked to the 2019 pro-democracy protests: “[I] felt a great sense of responsibility. It was a glorious mission.”
The legal forum – which bore the theme “thrive with security” – saw senior government officials and legal scholars discuss the implementation of the legislation since its enactment on June 30, 2020. Zheng Yanxiong, head of the national security agency, also gave a speech.
Lam said the fact that the forum was held on the two-year anniversary of May 28, 2020 – when the National People’s Congress adopted a resolution paving the way for the national security law – gave the event “additional significance.”
The Asia chairperson of US-based law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, Martin Rogers, withdrew from Saturday’s forum following criticism that it was a “propaganda event.”
