Editor's note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language "The Real Point." The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Despite constant defamation and smearing by some anti-China forces in the West, China's national security law for Hong Kong, which entered into effect last year, has proved that it serves as a safeguard for the interests of Hong Kong and the well-being of the people there. The National Security Legal Forum recently held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, themed "Security Brings Prosperity," has helped people gain a better understanding of the benefits the law has brought to Hong Kong.

The first benefit is people's peace of mind. While targeting a small group of anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong, and foreign or external interference forces, the law protects the rights and interests of the vast majority of people in Hong Kong. In the past year since the introduction of the law, social order in Hong Kong has been restored, and people have enjoyed peace of mind, free from fear and anxiety.

During the turbulence over the amendment bill in 2019, anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong colluded with foreign forces to blatantly trample on the rule of law, maliciously disrupt the social order, and undermine the rights and freedom of the residents. Hong Kong was thrown into chaos and unrest. In a recent interview with CNBC, Cai Chongxin (Joseph Tsai), executive vice-chairman of the board of directors of Alibaba Group, said that he did not even dare to walk on the streets during the chaotic times in the city and that people speaking Mandarin were often targeted by violent "protesters."

According to a survey conducted by the Bauhinia Research Institute in late June, as many as 75.7 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the effectiveness of the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, and more than 70 percent of the respondents believed that the implementation of the law has increased their confidence in the future of the policy of "One Country, Two Systems". A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong showed that 77 percent of the respondents believed the quality of life in Hong Kong was good. The number of foreign news media and practitioners entering Hong Kong has increased. All this is a clear indication that the national security law in Hong Kong has put the city back on track and that the legal rights and freedom of Chinese and foreign nationals in Hong Kong are better protected.

The second benefit is stabilizing Hong Kong's status. Under the protection of the national security law, Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center has been further consolidated and strengthened over the past year, and the business environment has become even better and more attractive to foreign investors.

Hong Kong is predicted to remain as one of the world's top three IPO markets in 2021, with expected total fundraising of HK$500 billion. Hong Kong has also seen net cash inflow in 2020. Meanwhile, the total amount of banking deposits rose, with over 5 percent year-on-year growth in 2020. The net assets under management of Hong Kong funds at the end of last year increased by about 20 percent compared with that at the end of 2019. In the first five months of 2021, the value of Hong Kong's exports and imports was up by 29.4 percent and 25.7 percent year-on-year, respectively. There are about 9,000 Chinese mainland and overseas companies with offices in Hong Kong, and more than 40 percent of them have Hong Kong as their regional headquarters or regional offices.

These figures show that international investors have become more interested in the Hong Kong market and more confident in Hong Kong's development prospects since the implementation of the national security law. Hong Kong has not only stepped out of chaos to stability but furthered up to prosperity.

The third benefit is a secure future for Hong Kong. This year, China has started its 14th Five-Year Plan, which will bring new opportunities for Hong Kong's development. The security and stability brought about by the national security law are bound to create favorable conditions for Hong Kong to better integrate into the overall development of the country.

Recent data from the HKSAR government show that the total income earned by Hong Kong residents grew by 7.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021. According to Credit Suisse, in terms of wealth per adult, Hong Kong in 2021 ranked third in the world, after Switzerland and the United States, at HK$3.91 million. In addition, Hong Kong's GDP increased by 7.9 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2021 as the economy began to recover.

These positive changes in Hong Kong over the past year have effectively proved that the national security law in Hong Kong has safeguarded not only China's national sovereign security and development interests, but also the overall interests of Hong Kong and the fundamental well-being of the residents in Hong Kong. It has also shown that only by comprehensively implementing the policy of "One Country, Two Systems" under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy, and only with the backing of the motherland, can Hong Kong people enjoy true freedom and democracy, and can their rights be fully protected. It is foreseeable that under the protection of the national security law in Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient will shine even brighter, and law-abiding foreign enterprises will achieve greater development in Hong Kong. 

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