Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Wednesday that the national security law in the HKSAR has been remarkably effective in restoring stability in Hong Kong over the past four months. Lam made the remarks when delivering the 2020 policy address at a meeting of the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo). The national security law in the HKSAR was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and included in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law on June 30, and took effect in Hong Kong on the same day. The advocacy of "Hong Kong independence" and collusions with external forces have since progressively subsided, Lam said, citing radical organizations ceasing operation or dissolving, suspects of violating the law absconding, and street violence significantly on the decline. Under the national security law, the principle of respecting and protecting human rights will continue to be upheld and the legitimate rights of Hong Kong residents to exercise their freedom of speech, press, assembly, demonstration and procession will not be affected, Lam said.
