The freedoms and rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents will not be affected in any way by the laws to be enacted in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Monday.

Tung noted that his government has endeavored to safeguard the freedoms and fundamental rights of residents in the past five years, adding that "I wish to reiterate that the government would continue to do so. The freedoms and rights being enjoyed by residents will not be affected in any way by the laws to be enacted in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law."

The chief executive stressed that the objective of the legislation is to protect national security, not to restrict the freedoms of residents.

According to Tung, 27 community, political and business groups in Hong Kong Monday expressed support for the government to legislate in accordance with Article 23.

He stated that the Hong Kong community at large clearly knows that the HKSAR government and every resident have the obligation to implement the Basic Law requirement to protect national security.

"We must do so to realize our fundamental commitment to Hong Kong and our country. Therefore, we must enact laws in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2002)