The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was established on Friday as required by the national security law, a HKSAR government spokesperson said.

Members of the committee include Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, Secretary for Security John Lee, Commissioner of Police Tang Ping-keung, Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) Edwina Lau, Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Hermes Tang and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Chan Kwok-ki, the spokesperson said in the statement.

Chan was sworn in on Thursday as the secretary general of the committee.

The duties of the committee shall be analyzing and assessing developments in relation to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, making work plans and formulating policies for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, advancing the development of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security, and coordinating major work and significant operations for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, according to the spokesperson.

In accordance with stipulations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, the committee is chaired by the HKSAR chief executive Carrie Lam.

As stipulated in the national security law, the committee shall have a national security adviser. China's State Council on Friday announced that Luo Huining was appointed to take up the post. He will sit in on meetings of the committee.

Lam welcomed the State Council's decision and the appointments on the personnel of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government (CPG) in the HKSAR.

The HKSAR government, the national security adviser to the committee and the office for safeguarding national security of the CPG in the HKSAR will work closely, perform their respective functions and do their utmost in implementing the national security law, fulfilling the duty of the HKSAR in safeguarding national security, Lam said.

Edwina Lau, on the nomination by Lam, was sworn in on Friday as the deputy commissioner of police (national security) and the head of the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force.

"Ms Lau has served in the Hong Kong Police Force for 35 years and has demonstrated distinguished leadership, professionalism and perseverance," Lam said on the appointment of Lau.

"I have no doubt that she can discharge the historic responsibility of leading the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force to fulfil the crucial duty to safeguard national security at this critical moment."

The spokesperson also announced that a specialized prosecution division responsible for the prosecution of national security offenses under the Department of Justice has been established as required by the national security law.

The first batch of prosecutors of that division has been appointed by the secretary for justice after obtaining the consent of the committee. The head of the division will be appointed later, said the spokesperson.

As required by the national security law, the chief executive, after consulting the committee and the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, has also designated six serving magistrates from the judiciary as designated judges to handle cases concerning offenses endangering national security. 

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