A recently released white paper from China’s State Council Information Office has articulated the critical role of legal frameworks in preserving Hong Kong’s stability under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle. The document, titled ‘Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems,’ emphasizes how the National Security Law has created essential legal protections against both external and internal threats to the special administrative region’s security.
The comprehensive analysis details how the 2019 social unrest revealed significant vulnerabilities in Hong Kong’s previous national security provisions. In response, the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020 established a robust legal architecture capable of preventing and penalizing activities that jeopardize national security and public order. This legislative action coincided with the sentencing of media magnate Jimmy Lai to 20 years imprisonment for collusion with foreign forces, demonstrating the law’s enforcement mechanisms.
According to the white paper, the legal measures have effectively neutralized destabilizing elements while protecting residents’ legitimate rights within a secure environment. The restoration of order has transformed Hong Kong back into one of the world’s safest urban centers, with the city experiencing renewed economic dynamism. Economic indicators substantiate this recovery, with Hong Kong achieving 3.5% growth in 2025 while maintaining its status as a premier global financial hub. The city now ranks third in the Global Financial Centres Index and fourth worldwide in talent competitiveness, leading all Asian jurisdictions.
The document further emphasizes that national security preservation is inseparable from the successful implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework. The legal framework has reinforced governance structures by ensuring that patriotic leaders committed to resident welfare administer Hong Kong. This alignment between central government oversight and local implementation has created a sustainable model for Hong Kong’s continued development and prosperity within China’s constitutional framework.