Page 6 - REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS

(2) We maintained constitutional order in the special administrative regions.

In May 2020, a decision on establishing a sound legal system and
enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(SAR) to safeguard national security was adopted in accordance with the
Constitution at the Third Session of the 13th NPC. As authorized at the
Session, we formulated the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the
Hong Kong SAR and decided to add it to Annex III to the Basic Law of the

Hong Kong SAR, to be promulgated and implemented locally by the Hong
Kong SAR. This filled a long-existing legislative vacuum with regard to
national security in Hong Kong. We also adopted an interpretation of certain
articles in the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR,
further clarifying the position and duties of the Committee for Safeguarding
National Security and the chief executive of Hong Kong in dealing with
national security issues.

In March 2021, a decision on improving the electoral system of Hong
Kong was adopted in accordance with the Constitution at the Fourth Session
of the 13th NPC. We revised Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the

Hong Kong SAR as authorized at the Session to improve the methods for the
selection of the chief executive and for the formation of the Legislative
Council, and we also adopted a decision on issues regarding the qualifications
of members of the Legislative Council, thus helping develop an effective
system for democratic election.

We adopted decisions to grant the Macao SAR jurisdiction over the
Macao side of the Hengqin port and related extended areas and to launch
trials for allowing lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao to practice in nine
mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, in order to support Hong Kong and
Macao in better integrating themselves into China’s overall development.

In adopting the legislation and decisions concerning the special
administrative regions, we fully implemented the policy of One Country, Two

Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and
the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy.
We worked to see that Hong Kong and Macao are administered by patriots
and that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two
regions. These efforts provided a strong legal foundation for Hong Kong’s
entry into a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive and
for ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.

(3) We strengthened constitutional review and enhanced the recording and
review of normative documents.

We developed sound working mechanisms for constitutional review and
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