Safeguarding national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity

Today, I attended the closing ceremony of a military training camp designed for university students at San Wai Barracks, Fanling. I congratulated some 80 students for completing the vigorous 13-day training and for learning the spirit of patriotism of our soldiers.

I said in my speech, "At all times and in all places, a nation has always been humanity's biggest collective. A nation and its people share the same fate. A nation must represent its people and protect their safety and interests. The stronger a nation is, the better its people are protected, the more their interests are safeguarded, and the higher status its people can attain in the international community. Every individual has the obligation to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and national interests."

"China is a big country, but the lesson from the history of the late Qing dynasty was a hard-learned one: a big but weak China would only suffer, and a suffering China would only mean a suffering Hong Kong, as demonstrated by the three years and eight months of Japanese occupation in the 1940s. Hong Kong's participation in the Mainland's reform and opening up in the past 30 years or so was also a valuable experience: the nation's stability and progress are the biggest pre-condition for Hong Kong's prosperity, our younger generation's career development, and continual enhancement of Hong Kong's status in the international community. Therefore, it is necessary for all Hong Kong people to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security for the sake of national interests as well as our own interests."

"In these matters, the relationship between Hong Kong and the nation is enshrined in the law, including the Basic Law and local legislation. Hong Kong upholds the rule of law, and we must respect, abide by and enforce the law."

August 14, 2016