A political adviser from the Hong Kong region acknowledged China's sovereign right to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during an online interview with CGTN on Tuesday. 

Wong Kam-fai, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Hong Kong, also a professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told CGTN that he "totally" agreed with what has been done this year to set up a new law.

At the ongoing annual "Two Sessions," China's top legislature will deliberate on a draft decision to introduce national security legislation for the HKSAR, which seeks to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms.  

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The legislation represents a major move taken under new circumstances for upholding and improving the system of institutions of "One Country, Two Systems," for maintaining law-based governance of Hong Kong, and for safeguarding the special administrative region's constitutional order as defined in the Constitution and the Basic Law, said China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Monday. 

Asked to comment on his thoughts on the national security legislation for HKSAR, Wong hailed the draft the central government adopted, as it is in line with "Hong Kong's perspective to protect the city."  

Efforts must be made at the state level to change its defenseless status, given activities jeopardizing national security have become increasingly rampant in the financial hub, Wong said while taking questions from CGTN via video link.  

For protecting the country, the law acts as security for the whole nation, he added.

Why does Hong Kong need this now? 

Hong Kong is part of China and as such, it shoulders the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security. But it has long been defenseless in terms of national security. 

Under the Basic Law, the HKSAR's constitutional document, Hong Kong shall enact laws on its own to safeguard national security. This is known as Article 23. 

However, Article 23 has become so stigmatized and demonized in Hong Kong that it is, in fact, very difficult for the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo) to fulfill its legal responsibility of enacting relevant laws. 

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This legal loophole has been taken advantage of by local and foreign anti-China forces. Activities jeopardizing national security have become increasingly rampant in Hong Kong. 

Last year, rioters besieged the HKSAR government headquarters and public agencies, broke into and vandalized the HKSAR LegCo building, trashed metro stations, banks and stores, assaulted police officers, set fires on the streets, beat up tourists and residents and even made terrorist threats.