â€‹The National People's Congress (NPC) will deliberate a draft Decision for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security (the Decision).

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang, welcomes the Decision and will strive to lead the department to perform its gatekeeping role in preventing the import and export of controlled and prohibited items into and out of Hong Kong, with a view to prohibiting acts that endanger Hong Kong and national security. 

     Mr Tang said that the Decision helps to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as to ensure the robustness of the "One Country, Two Systems" and long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Customs fully supports the Decision and will do our utmost in discharging our duties. The department will collaborate with other disciplinary forces in protecting Hong Kong and safeguarding national security under the guidance of the Security Bureau.

     The National People's Congress (NPC) will deliberate a draft Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security (the Decision).

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, fully supports the Decision by the NPC and will lead all disciplinary forces to discharge their duties for safeguarding national security.  

     In the past year, the violence in Hong Kong has been escalating, with many cases involving explosives and genuine firearms. Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as "Hong Kong independence", become more rampant. 

     Society is filled with violence and has lost its peace. In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence. The radical and violent acts that occurred on Hong Kong Island yesterday (May 24) have severely blocked the traffic. The rioters had gone on a rampage. Many shops were vandalised and a number of innocent citizens and police officers were injured. Some protesters waving flags advocating "Hong Kong independence". The Secretary for Security strongly condemns the acts of the rioters' and advocates of "Hong Kong Independence", and expresses his full support to the Police to strictly enforce the law. Today's incident proves the need and urgency of the Decision to be deliberated by the NPC.

     Mr Lee said, "I fully support the NPC's draft Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security which allows Hong Kong to be back on track, ensuring its long-term prosperity and stability."

     In response to comments by foreign politicians on the National Security Law, a Government spokesman today (May 24) said:
      
     "Every country has a right, and indeed a duty, to protect national security and sovereignty. To suggest that our sovereign, China, does not have the right to legislate to protect national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) smacks of double standards and hypocrisy. 
      
     "Even the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulate that international covenants on rights and freedoms cannot undermine national security.
      
     "Much of the criticism and commentary from politicians and pundits is no more than alarmist speculation and innuendo that completely ignore the constitutional reality that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China. As such, it cannot and must never become a base for subversive activities or organisations seeking to destabilise our country.
      
     "The proposed law will only target acts of secession, subversion, terrorist activities as well as activities interfering with HKSAR's internal affairs by foreign or external forces. The vast majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents, including overseas investors, have nothing to fear.  
      
     "In recent days, violent protesters have returned to the streets of Hong Kong to wreak havoc yet again. These protests have had a massive impact on our economy and social stability and cannot be allowed to continue. No country would or could turn a blind eye to a resurgence of the violence and anarchy that has plagued our society for almost a year.
      
     "Sadly, and perhaps tellingly, those who claim to be acting in Hong Kong's best interests turn a blind eye to the explosives, petrol bombs, firearms, weapons, attacks on bystanders, wanton vandalism, online trolling and disinformation campaigns used by radical protesters and their hidden handlers to stoke fear and chaos and destabilise society. By doing so, their truly deceitful intentions are exposed. 
      
     "The decision by the National People's Congress, the highest organ of State power, to enact the national security law will establish and improve the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. It will be a boon as it will make Hong Kong a safe city.
      
     "The legitimate rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the law and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, will not be affected. Hong Kong will remain a free, cosmopolitan, open and welcoming city under the rule of law. Our high degree of autonomy and the cardinal principle of Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong as enshrined in the Basic Law will remain intact. The long-term stability and prosperity of this vibrant international metropolis under the unique and well-tried "One Country, Two Systems" will be further assured.

     Since today (May 24) noon, a large group of rioters have wreaked havoc in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai under the pretext of protest.

     Not only did the rioters build barricades on busy roads packed with vehicles, but they also set fire to rubbish and inflicted extensive damage to public amenities like traffic lights. Roadside railings were dismantled while a large amount of drainage covers and bricks were removed. Some shops were vandalised by rioters, suffering financial losses. Some people who held dissenting views and Police officers have been attacked with bricks and umbrellas by rioters. Some injured victims have been hospitalised for treatment. Some rioters even allegedly threw glass bottles from the rooftop of a building on the ground, posing a serious threat to public safety. In the evening, the protestors gathering inside a shopping mall on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui behaved in a disorderly manner, causing disruption to the public peace.

     Police have taken resolute action to enforce the law. Up to 9.30pm, at least 180 persons had been arrested mainly for offences like participating in an unauthorised assembly, unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct in a public place.

     Police strongly condemn the rioters for injuring others and causing violent disruption. Not only are these atrocious acts in breach of the law, but they are also not to be condoned by any civilised society. Police will spare no effort in the investigation and offenders must bear the legal consequences. Police call for concerted efforts to renounce violence and restore peaceful and rational means of expression, a core value that Hong Kong people always take pride in.
     

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     At around 3.30pm today (May 24), rioters damaged shops and used bricks to smash the glasses of shops in Causeway Bay, leaving glass debris on the ground. Earlier, rioters hurled bricks from the pavement in the vicinity of Hennessy Road and Percival Street, leaving bricks and stones on the ground which endangers the safety of road users.
      
     Police warn rioters to stop all unlawful and violent acts. Police is conducting enforcement at relevant districts and would bring assailant to justice.