Tung: National security law a cure for HK’s chaos

HONG KONG – A national security law for Hong Kong would be an effective remedy to resolve the city's current predicament, said Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Monday.

In the past several years, he said, Hong Kong has been troubled by "a severe ailment" with a disproportionate share of the economic burden falling on the shoulders of ordinary people who also have to live in constant fear of street violence.

"Enough is enough," he said, "Hong Kong people do not deserve to live like this."

Tung believed the decision by the nation's top legislature – the National People's Congress - to introduce a national security legislation has lifted the spirit of many people in the city who see this as the break of dawn.

The incessant violent protests have taken a heavy toll on the city, pushing the city's unemployment rate to the highest recorded in the past decade, Tung said.

The law could effectively put a stop unrest and chaos in Hong Kong and only when the country is safe and its people are content, can people lead a safe and happy life, Tung said.

"To safeguard national security is to safeguard Hong Kong's own security," he said.

It is time for the special administrative region to fulfill its responsibility to safeguard national sovereignty and to promote national stability and prosperity, he said.

The former chief executive and founder of the think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation made the remarks on the proposed national security legislation for the Hong Kong in a live broadcast.