Central gov't office for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong inaugurated

HONG KONG, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was inaugurated here on Wednesday morning.

The office for safeguarding national security is "the envoy of Hong Kong's security" and "the gatekeeper of national security," Luo Huining, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the inauguration ceremony.

Luo is also the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and the national security adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR.

The national security office in Hong Kong will perform its mandate in strict compliance with the law and be subject to supervision in accordance with the law, and will not infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of any individual or organization, Luo said.

The office was established in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, which was adopted by China's top legislature and promulgated in the HKSAR on June 30.

According to the national security law, the office analyzes and assesses developments related to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, provides opinions and makes proposals on major strategies and important policies, and oversees, guides, coordinates with and supports the HKSAR in assuming the duties for safeguarding national security.

The office also collects and analyzes intelligence and information about national security and handles cases on offenses endangering national security.