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1. Aerial shot of cityscape

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2. Various of Golden Bauhinia Square, Chinese national flag, flag of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)

Beijing, China - May 23, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Graphics showing key points of statement

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4. Various of Chinese national flag, HKSAR flag

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5. Graphics showing key points of statement

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6. Various of pedestrians, closed stores

Beijing, China - May 23, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Graphics showing key points of statement

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8. Various of closed stores

FILE: Hong Kong, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Aerial shot of cityscape

A delegation of deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) issued a statement on Friday night, showing firm support on the draft decision concerning the establishment and improvement of a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

The draft decision to establish and improve a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR was submitted to the third session of the 13th NPC for deliberation on Friday.

The statement said that the establishment and improvement of a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR has already become an urgent task to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and ensure the smooth and long-term successful practice of "one country, two systems."

In nearly 23 years since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has not yet fulfilled its legal responsibility of enacting laws on its own to safeguard national security in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, leading to a great harm to the Hong Kong society and even endangering the safety of the whole country.

According the statement, the decision of the NPC is based on sufficient jurisprudential evidence. For any counties in the world, national security legislation is the responsibilities of the central government, which is the ultimate defender of national security and interests.

Given that the HKSAR can hardly complete the national security legislation, the NPC's decision to exercise its powers enshrined in the Constitution to establish the relevant legal framework and enforcement mechanism from a state-level, to solve the prominent problems faced by Hong Kong in safeguarding national security, to establish an institutional barrier to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, comforts to the central authorities' responsibilities to supervise the implementation of the Basic Law, said the statement.

The statement pointed that the establishment and improvement of a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR will better ensure a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, and the basic rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents.

Any rights and freedom are not without restrictions and must be exercised within the limits prescribed by law, which is the consensus and practice of the international community, it said.

To establish and improve a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is to prohibit a very small number of people from splitting the country, subverting state power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, and foreign and external forces from interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR. It will protect the vast majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents, guarantee the legitimate rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents. It meets the expectations of all the residents who love Hong Kong, said the statement.

The relative decision of the NPC will be conducive to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, maintaining sound legal and business environments in Hong Kong, said the statement.