Tam Yiu-chung of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies also said on Tuesday that the move to introduce subsidiary laws did not grant more power to the Office for Safeguarding National Security, which oversees national security efforts in the city.
The new subsidiary legislation was enacted a day after the government announced plans to better enable authorities to safeguard national security and address threats amid a complicated geopolitical situation.
Tam, a former member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, told an RTHK programme that he believes the new laws would not be abused.
“We often see the West taking unfriendly, suppressive, destructive and provocative actions against China, so we must take some precautionary measures,” Tam said.
“The aim of the subsidiary legislation is not to arrest or detain people but to prevent and stop criminal acts.”
Maria Tam, a former deputy director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee, said the subsidiary legislation offers appropriate protection to the national security office.
She also said that introducing subsidiary laws is necessary in the face of possible risks arising from geopolitics.
Legal scholar Willy Fu, for his part, said the legislative move was important to safeguard national security and consolidate the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
He said the subsidiary legislation offers solid legal protection, allowing the city to develop in a safe and stable environment.
