Businesses will welcome new national security laws: CE
The new national security laws Hong Kong is planning will be good for business as they will ensure a stable and safe environment, Chief Executive John Lee said on Sunday. In his Policy Address last week, Lee said the government is pressing ahead with drawing up options for the new laws under Article 23 of the Basic Law, and it will complete the legislative process next year.  On a TVB programme, the CE said ensuring human rights and freedom will be very important and the new legislation will not override the Basic Law itself. He added that businesses should also welcome the new laws. "The National Security Law in Hong Kong and the Basic Law Article 23 legislation to be enacted...they're to ensure that we have a very steadily safe basis for businesses to invest in, that this is good for investment," he said. Responding to questions as to whether the authorities are putting too much emphasis on national security, Lee cited Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office chief Xia Baolong as saying the pain of the violence in 2019 should not be forgotten, even though the wound has healed. Lee said external forces are still intervening in Hong Kong, because they don't want the city to do well. The CE was also asked about the government's move to ease "spicy measures" used to cool the property market and whether they might be jacked up again if home prices surge. Lee said he wouldn't offer an assessment on this, as he doesn't want to give the market the wrong signal.