Business magnate Allan Zeman has voiced optimism about Hong Kong's prospects, as the city is to mark the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland. #GLOBALink

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Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Monday that she would not run in the upcoming election of the HKSAR's sixth-term chief executive.

The nomination period for the once-in-five-year chief executive election of the HKSAR began on Sunday and will run through April 16. The election will be held on May 8.

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A seminar demonstrating architectural art in northwest China was given on Thursday to students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), delivered by Zhao Yuanchao, chief architect of China Northwest Architecture Design and Research Institute.

The CUHK session is part of "The Spirit of the Times Shines upon Hong Kong" activity series to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. #GLOBALink

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China's top legislature unanimously adopted the "landmark" law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong.

People convicted of the national security crimes could face up to life imprisonment.

The law is a "sword" deterring people who endanger national security and a "guardian" protecting Hong Kong residents.

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers Tuesday voted to adopt the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The law was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which goes into effect on the date of promulgation.

With 66 articles in six chapters, the law clearly defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences -- secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties.

According to the law, the central government will set up an office in the HKSAR for safeguarding national security.

The HKSAR will establish a committee for safeguarding national security, which is under the supervision of and accountable to the central government. To be chaired by the HKSAR chief executive, the committee shall have a national security adviser designated by the central government. The Hong Kong police force will also set up a department for safeguarding national security, according to the law.

After the law was passed, the NPC Standing Committee consulted its HKSAR Basic Law Committee and the HKSAR government, and adopted on Tuesday afternoon, by a unanimous vote, a decision to list the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law.

The newly-adopted decision stipulates that the law shall be applied locally in the HKSAR by way of promulgation by the region.

The law came into force in Hong Kong at 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday upon its promulgation by the HKSAR government in the gazette.

HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said in a statement that the HKSAR government welcomes the passage of the law.

"I am confident that after the implementation of the national security law, the social unrest which has troubled Hong Kong people for nearly a year will be eased and stability will be restored, thereby enabling Hong Kong to start anew, focus on economic development and improve people's livelihood," she said.

WIDE SUPPORT

The law came after prolonged social unrest and escalating street violence had plunged Hong Kong into the gravest situation since its return to the motherland in 1997. Rampant activities of "Hong Kong independence" organizations and violent radicals as well as blatant interference by external forces have disrupted Hong Kong residents' daily life and threatened their safety.

Addressing the closing meeting of the NPC Standing Committee session, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the unanimous passage of the law and the decision has reflected the common will of the Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.

Stressing that national security, social stability and the order of rule of law are the premises of the development of Hong Kong, Li said the legislation represents the aspirations of the people and an irresistible trend of the times.

In a statement, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council voiced firm support for the law, calling it a "milestone" event that will usher in a turning point for Hong Kong to end chaos and bring back order.

In a separate statement, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said the promulgation and implementation of the law at the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland is an event worth celebrating for all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.

Nearly 2.93 million Hong Kong residents earlier signed a petition in support of the national security legislation during an eight-day campaign starting May 24.

"SWORD" AND "GUARDIAN"

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in its statement that for a tiny number of people endangering national security, the law will be a "sharp sword" hanging over their heads.

But for the vast majority of Hong Kong residents including foreigners in Hong Kong, the law will be a "guardian" that protects their rights, freedoms and peaceful life, said the office.

According to the law, people convicted of the national security crimes could face up to life imprisonment.

Convicted criminals will be disqualified from running for public office, and people in public office who are found guilty of the crimes will be removed from their posts.

The law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment, according to its provision.

Upon promulgation, the law will resolutely and effectively safeguard national security and ensure that the "one country, two systems" cause is steered toward the right direction, said top legislator Li Zhanshu.

The law will vigorously uphold the constitutional order and the order of rule of law in the HKSAR, forestall and deter external interference, and safeguard Hong Kong's fundamental, long-term and current interests, he said.

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TBILISI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Protests in any form should be peaceful, by no means through radical actions and disruption of normal life, David Aptsiauri, former Georgian ambassador to China, has said. 
   "We think that any protest should be expressed in peaceful ways through dialogue, readiness for consensus solutions and not by means of radical actions and disruption of normal life of the community," Aptsiauri, also general director of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua recently. 
   Aptsiauri stressed that social stability is vitally important for further economic development and improvement of living standards in Hong Kong. 
   Hong Kong's closer cooperation with the Chinese mainland "means increasing new job opportunities and growth of trade and tourism," Aptsiauri said, calling on the people in Hong Kong to cherish and maintain peace and stability. 
   Aptsiauri recalled he had visited Hong Kong several times as the former ambassador to China and was impressed by the progress the city made after its reunification with the Chinese mainland. 
   "I would like to reiterate that Georgia firmly supports the 'one country, two systems' principle," he said. 
   Hong Kong has since June suffered from prolonged and escalating violence that originated from demonstrations over proposed ordinance amendments concerning fugitive offenders. 
   The Hong Kong police said the level of aggression by demonstrators has been the highest in decades.

Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and Hong Kong /the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China/ became effective from February 13 this year.

Georgia-Hong Kong /China/ Free Trade Agreement was signed on June 28, 2018, in Hong Kong within the framework of the One Belt- One Road summit.

The purpose of the agreement is to determine the terms of the free movement of the goods between Georgia and Hong Kong – the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China as well as to promote trade of services. The new generation agreement between the parties also covers such topics as promotion of customs and trade, intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, etc.

Georgia is the first country in the region with whom Hong Kong has signed a free trade agreement. The agreement will increase awareness of Georgia, its business climate and promote trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and Georgia.

Hong Kong conducts open economic policy and represents one of the largest key transnational financial centers of the world.

Enactment of the Agreement will facilitate the growth of the trade turnover between the parties and give Georgian entrepreneurs chances to introduce their products and services without additional bureaucratic barriers to a 7-million consumer market.