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Hong Kong national security law
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong’s No 2 defends national security law as ‘vital’ in statement to UN Human Rights Council

  • Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung maintains rights will be respected under the law, and that it is already having a positive effect
  • UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has urged Hong Kong to review the law ‘in response to any negative consequences’ for liberties

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The chamber of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters
Jack Lau
Hong Kong’s No 2 official defended the city’s Beijing-drafted national security law at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, saying it had been effective in curbing violent anti-government protests and was aimed at preserving residents’ freedoms.
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Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the international community should not adopt double standards in criticising Hong Kong’s national security law when similar legislation existed in almost all countries.

“The law is vital in bringing Hong Kong back on track and safeguarding our country’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” Cheung, the deputy head of the China delegation, said in a video statement published on Tuesday. “In implementing the law, the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people will be protected and respected.”

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung speaks to the press in January. Photo: Winson Wong
Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung speaks to the press in January. Photo: Winson Wong
Beijing imposed the sweeping law on Hong Kong on June 30, criminalising in broad terms acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with external forces. The legislation was in response to months of widespread anti-government protests that rocked the city last year, which mainland and local officials maintained were fomented by separatists and foreign powers.
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In his statement, Cheung said advocates of Hong Kong independence and those colluding with external forces had visibly subsided after the law came into force. He added that Hong Kong would continue to be an open and international finance and business centre.

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