STORY: Article 23 legislation to create stable, prosperous future for Hong Kong: official
SHOOTING TIME: March 20, 2024
DATELINE: March 22, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:05
LOCATION: Geneva, Switzerland
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the United Nations
2. various of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English): CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, Deputy secretary for justice of the HKSAR government

STORYLINE:

Deputy secretary for justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, Cheung Kwok-kwan, said on Wednesday that Article 23 legislation will bring about a stable and prosperous future for Hong Kong.
   
Cheung made the remarks while addressing the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

SOUNDBITE (English): CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, Deputy secretary for justice of the HKSAR government
"Legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law has just been passed by Hong Kong's legislature to discharge Hong Kong's long overdue constitutional duty to enact laws on its own to safeguard national security. First and foremost, every sovereign state has an inherent right to enact laws to safeguard its national security, including China. Many countries have enacted a host of national security laws based on their own national security risks and needs.
The legislation fully aligns with the principles of international laws and practices. The comments by some countries and organizations on this, are made in complete disregard of basic jurisprudence and fact, and demonstrate nothing more than double standard and sophistry.
Second, the legislation clearly specifies that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, as applied to Hong Kong, are to be protected in accordance with the law. This important principle forms a cornerstone of the legislation and is literally written in the new law. Our new legislation also strictly adheres to the principle of the rule of law, the laws are certain and clear and they come with appropriate exceptions and defenses. 
Last but not least, the legislative exercise has gathered very wide support from the Hong Kong community. Mr President, any attempts to discredit or undermine the Legislation on Article 23 are misguided at best. We are confident that the legislation will bring about a stable and prosperous future for Hong Kong with the rights and freedoms enjoyed in accordance with the laws, fully protected as always. Thank you."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Geneva, Switzerland.
(XHTV)