Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

A symposium marking the first anniversary of the national security law for Hong Kong was held Friday with representatives from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao attending via video link. The symposium shows the whole Chinese people have become more proud, confident and assured in their identity as Chinese and are firmly determined to ensure the steady implementation of "one country, two systems." It conveyed a solemn warning against some politicians in the US and the European Parliament: You brutally trampled on international law, interfered in our country's internal affairs, and imposed meaningless so-called sanctions on us, which can only arouse our anger and contempt for you. This can only continue to sound the death knell for your agents in Hong Kong. You are lifting a rock only to drop it on your own feet. 

Comparing today with the past, whether the national security law for Hong Kong is good or not, facts speak louder than words and people's support has the final say. Bidding farewell to the past Hong Kong plagued by rampant secessionists, violent rioters and Lam Chau radicals who advocate "If we burn, you burn with us," who else would not like to see the fresh and orderly streets of Hong Kong today? In a city where citizens travel with ease, shops operate and students go to school without worries, who else would not be happy to see human rights, freedom and people's livelihood and welfare thrive in such a way? The answer is certainly not the general public in Hong Kong.  

But we must be vigilant. The troublemakers who have attacked and smeared the national security law for Hong Kong are not willing to cease their actions. This reminds us that we must make national security clearly and thoroughly understood. Without national security, there will be no human rights and freedom. Numerous historical lessons have made the Chinese people clear about this. Hong Kong's past colonial history was a product of failed national security. It was also a page when the human rights and freedom of our Hong Kong compatriots were mercilessly trampled upon by colonists. 

To boost the country's prosperity, to make the law dignified, and to ensure that the people live and work in peace in a healthy economic and social order is the logic to realize a safe country and happy families. Bringing the anti-China rioters in Hong Kong to justice, and invigorating patriotism is the only way to maintain the long-term stability of Hong Kong. The practice in the past year has proven that the promulgation and implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong has effectively safeguarded the administrative authority of the chief executive and the special administrative region (SAR) government, helping the SAR government focus on preventing and controlling the epidemic, developing the economy, improving people's livelihood, and promoting the positive interactions between Legislative Council and the SAR government. In the face of illegal and unreasonable sanctions by the US, officials of the SAR and Hong Kong patriots are fearless and righteous. They have inspired the Hong Kong people's firm belief in self-respect and self-improvement.

Letting the national security law for Hong Kong take root and become increasingly powerful is the common wish of Hong Kong people. As of the end of June, law enforcement agencies of the SAR have arrested 117 rioters, charging 64. Strong enforcement actions have achieved immediate results, proving that the law is a guardian angel of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The public in Hong Kong is more confident in the prospect of "one country, two systems" because they see that the original loopholes in Hong Kong's national security system have been fundamentally blocked, and hidden hands of hostile forces inside and outside Hong Kong that had endangered the national security have been cut off. The constitutional order of the SAR established by the Constitution and the Basic Law has been strongly guaranteed.

Judging from facts and statistics from the Hong Kong market, the impact of the national security law for Hong Kong since its enactment is satisfactory. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the gloomy global economy, compared to the 12 months before the law's enactment, the funds raised for new IPOs exceeded $HK 500 billion, a 50 percent increase. Total deposits in Hong Kong banks increased 5.6 percent to $HK14.9 trillion. In the first half of the year, the number of newly established local companies is 11 percent more than the second half of last year. 

It should also be noted that the steady economic development in the mainland is the driving force of many foreign investors to open new companies in Hong Kong. China is the only major economy that realized positive growth last year. In the first half of the year, it performed well with its GDP increasing 12.7 percent compared with the same period last year. The Chinese economy is believed to be the locomotive of the global economy. International investors eye the Hong Kong market, while they are eager to share the enormous dividends of the mainland economy.

Hong Kong's future is bright as the national security law has been enacted for a year. The mainland views national security issues from an overall and long-term perspective and will not allow any risks that threaten the country's core interests. The attempt by some US and Western forces to incite a Hong Kong-version color revolution is futile. No matter how they rudely trample on international law, interfere in China's internal affairs or resort to sanctions, they are doomed to fail, as always.