General Principles

The NSL was enacted in accordance with _____, _____ and _____.

• The Constitution, the Basic Law and the relevant NPC decision
• NPC passed the authorising decision on 28 May 2020
• NPCSC passed the NSL on 30 June 2020, with immediate effect
• Implemented in Hong Kong after being added to Annex III of the Basic Law

The NSL targets four types of offences: secession, _____, _____ and collusion with a foreign country or external elements.

• Subversion of state power; organising and carrying out terrorist activities (exact wording)
• Not "rebellion" or "espionage activities"
• Four offences — not fewer
• Collusion target is "foreign country or external elements", not "domestic forces"

The NSL came into force at _____ on 30 June 2020 in the HKSAR; the effective date is _____, not 1 July.

• 11 pm (announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam)
• 30 June 2020 (not 1 July, the Handover anniversary)
• Gazetted and added to Annex III of the Basic Law on the same day
• NPC authorised on 28 May 2020; NPCSC passed on 30 June 2020

Basic Law Articles 1 and 12 concerning the legal status of the HKSAR are the _____ of the Basic Law.

• Fundamental provisions (not "basic provisions" or "supreme provisions")
• Article 1: The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the PRC
• Article 12: The HKSAR is a local administrative region directly under the CPG
• Two articles only — not three or all provisions

Any institution, organisation or individual in the HKSAR shall not, in exercising _____, contravene Basic Law Articles 1 and 12.

• Rights and freedoms (not just "rights" or "duties")
• Applies to: any institution, any organisation, any individual
• Binding whenever rights and freedoms are exercised in the HKSAR
• Contravening either Article 1 or Article 12 is not permitted

The Central People's Government bears _____ for national security affairs relating to the HKSAR.

• Overarching responsibility (not "supreme", "constitutional" or "important" responsibility)
• Scope: "national security affairs relating to the HKSAR", not all affairs
• Central and HKSAR responsibility differ in nature and must not be confused

The HKSAR bears a _____ to safeguard national security; the HKSAR _____, _____ and _____ shall prevent, suppress and punish acts endangering national security.

• Constitutional duty (not overarching responsibility)
• Executive, legislative and judicial bodies (all three, none omitted)
• Verb phrase: "prevent, suppress and punish" (not "resolve and penalise")
• Legal basis: the NSL and other relevant laws

Safeguarding national security shall respect and protect rights under the Basic Law and _____ and _____ as applicable to Hong Kong.

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• Two covenants — not one or three
• "Provisions applicable to Hong Kong" — not the full text of the covenants

The NSL explicitly protects: (i) speech, press, publication; (ii) association; (iii) assembly, procession; (iv) demonstration. Which are protected?

• All four — (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) — are protected
• Cannot select only some of them
• Seven freedoms: speech, press, publication, association, assembly, procession, demonstration
• These freedoms are protected alongside national security — not curtailed by it

Preventing, suppressing and punishing offences endangering national security shall adhere to _____. Where the law does not provide for an offence, no one shall _____.

• Adhere to "the principle of the rule of law" (not "national security principle")
• Where no offence is provided by law: "shall not be convicted and punished"
• All three goals — prevention, suppression, punishment — must adhere to this principle
• This is the core of the legality (罪刑法定) principle

No one shall be convicted until a _____ has found him guilty; once finally adjudicated, no one shall be tried again for _____.

• Not convicted until a "judicial body" rules — not the executive or police
• Cannot be tried again for "the same act" (double jeopardy / 一事不再審)
• Criminal suspects and defendants are guaranteed the right to defend and other litigation rights
• Four principles: legality → presumption of innocence → right to defence → double jeopardy

Safeguarding national _____, _____ and _____ is the _____ of all the people of China, including the people of Hong Kong.

• Sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity (all three, in order)
• Subject: "all the people of China, including the people of Hong Kong" — not just mainland residents
• Nature: "common responsibility" (not "constitutional duty" or "overarching responsibility")

HKSAR residents who _____ or _____ shall sign a confirmation or take an oath to uphold _____ and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.

• "Stand for election" or "take public office" — both situations trigger the requirement
• Uphold the "Basic Law of the HKSAR of the PRC" (not the NSL itself)
• Allegiance pledged to: "the HKSAR of the PRC"
• Confirmation document "or" oath — either mode satisfies the requirement

_____ in the HKSAR shall comply with the NSL and shall not engage in acts or activities endangering national security.

• Any institution, organisation or individual (not limited to HKSAR residents)
• Scope: the NSL and other HKSAR laws for safeguarding national security
• Prohibited: "acts and activities endangering national security"