Chief Secretary Eric Chan stressed on Wednesday that safeguarding security and promoting development are both essential to the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems", while national security is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's prosperity.

Chan also pledged that the government would grasp the opportunities brought by the country's 15th Five-Year Plan and ensure high-quality development under a safe environment.

He made the remarks at a joint flag-raising ceremony attended by the SAR's disciplined services on National Security Education Day, marked on April 15 every year.

"The SAR government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to solidify the system for protecting national security, enhance law enforcement coordination, deepen national security education, uphold the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong, and prevent and mitigate all types of security risks," he said.

Chan added the holistic approach to national security has spread throughout school campuses and the community, and everyone's sense of mission and self-awareness on safeguarding national security has reached an unprecedented high.

Referring to the State Council's white paper published in February, Chan reiterated that safeguarding national security is not only Hong Kong's constitutional duty, but also the foundational guarantee for the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems".



Edited by Raymond Yeung