Hong Kong leaders back security bill

On Friday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor wrote an open letter to all Hong Kong residents to appeal for their full understanding, and to staunchly support the decision passed by NPC.

In the letter, Lam said rioters' escalating violence and intensified foreign interference reflect a gaping hole in Hong Kong's national security situation, and put the city's prosperity and stability at risk.

The legislation aims to enable Hong Kong society to find a way out of the impasse, restore stability as soon as possible and resume development of the economy and people's livelihoods, Lam said.

She stressed that the legislation will only target an extremely small minority of illegal and criminal activities, while the life and property, basic rights and freedoms of the overwhelming majority of citizens will be protected.

In a statement, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said it will resolutely support Lam and her administration in performing duties related to safeguarding national security and cooperating with the NPC Standing Committee in order to complete the legislation as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for the office said the legislation provides necessary institutional guarantees for the SAR's long-term prosperity and stability under the "one country, two systems" principle, while reiterating the central government's unswerving determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.