Photo taken on May 21, 2020 shows a view of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
-It is "highly necessary" for China to introduce this bill.
-Safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese including Hong Kong compatriots.
-The HKSAR is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China, and the NPC is the highest organ of state power.
-The annual session of China's top legislature is scheduled to open Friday morning and conclude on May 28.
BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- China's national legislators will deliberate a bill on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security, according to the latest agenda of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC).
Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, attends a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Li He)
It is highly necessary for China's national legislature to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the third session of the 13th NPC, said at a press conference on Thursday.
Explaining the consideration for the draft decision, Zhang said safeguarding national security serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese including Hong Kong compatriots.
"The HKSAR is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China, and the NPC is the highest organ of state power," Zhang said.
Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, south China.(Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)
In light of the new circumstances and need, the NPC is exercising the power enshrined in the Constitution to establish and improve at the state level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, and to uphold and improve the institutional framework of "one country, two systems," he said.
The national legislature will open its annual session on Friday morning in Beijing, Zhang said.
The third session of the 13th NPC is scheduled to conclude on May 28, with nine items on its agenda, said the spokesperson.■
