White paper on Hong Kong crucial for high-quality 'one country, two systems' development: spokesperson

BEIJING -- The white paper on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's efforts in safeguarding national security is of major and far-reaching significance for the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" cause, a central government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council made the remarks after the white paper titled "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems" was released earlier in the day.

The white paper elaborates that the struggle to safeguard national security in Hong Kong has never stopped, and that the enactment and implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong is a major milestone in the practice of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson noted.

The national security law has served as a turning point marking Hong Kong's shift from turmoil to order, and ushered in a new stage in the practice of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson also said that the white paper expounds on how Hong Kong has effectively fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and it reviews the historic achievements and transformative changes that have been made.

The spokesperson stressed that safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is meant to uphold the principle of "one country, two systems," protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensure the region's long-term prosperity and stability.

A secure, free, open, dynamic and development-oriented Hong Kong serves the fundamental interests of the country, the well-being of its residents, and the interests of overseas investors, the spokesperson noted.

With a high level of security in place, Hong Kong will be well-positioned to overcome risks and challenges ahead and achieve enduring peace and stability, as well as long-term prosperity, the spokesperson concluded.