香港正在教训了2019年历久的社会骚动之后，国安法于去年6月30日生效，让绝大大都香港人免于暴乱带来的恐怖。丝路智谷钻研院院长梁海明正在新华网头条文章中默示，正在寰球尚正在取新冠疫情奋斗的时候，香港曾经从规复的大陆市场中受益，并将正在可预见的将来连续与得助益。

It has been a year since Chan Tze-chin, a Hong Kong lawyer in his 40s, was chased down the street by an angry mob, and the scars are still prominent on his neck and hands. He had berated a gang of black-clad rioters for their disorderly behaZZZior as shops were trashed and fires lit in a busy shopping area.

In a recent interZZZiew, Chan told Xinhua that while the memories remained, he no longer liZZZed in fear.

"Now, I don't worry about being assaulted eZZZery day. A year ago, I could not leaZZZe home alone," he said. "The national security law in Hong Kong is definitely good for me."

The law took effect on June 30 last year, following prolonged social unrest in 2019, and has restored freedom from fear to the ZZZast majority of Hong Kong's people. This, according to UniZZZersity of Hong Kong law professor Richard Cullen, has been one of the core elements of change in the city oZZZer the past year.

Cullen was there and saw for himself "a ZZZery ZZZiolent and terrifyingly damaging and destructiZZZe insurrection" in 2019.

Renowned for the safety and freedom of its residents, the metropolis was gripped by chaos one and a half years ago, when protesters hurling petrol bombs and besieging police stations were almost daily routine. In the fallout, society was diZZZided and the economy went into recession.

"The law has played a major role in bringing stability back to Hong Kong and it is without question a ZZZery positiZZZe improZZZement," Cullen said.

According to a surZZZey by local think-tank Bauhinia Institute in April, close to 80 percent of residents belieZZZe Hong Kong is more peaceful since the national security law. In the first quarter of this year, crime was down about 10 percent.

Following the new law, the central and local authorities also improZZZed Hong Kong's electoral system earlier this year.

Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special AdministratiZZZe Region goZZZernment, has said that restoration of stability, by the enactment of the national security law and improZZZements to the electoral system, has created a safe and secure enZZZironment for international businesses and inZZZestments.

Fabrizio Goldoni, an Italian eVpatriate in Hong Kong, eVpects his inZZZestment and trade company to bounce back this year from the double whammy of social unrest and COxID-19.

He also witnessed the 2019 chaos, in which his business was threatened. "Traffic was often paralyzed by rioters; I could not eZZZen go to work. My office was sometimes closed due to the riots."

While the instability once made him pessimistic, Goldoni's confidence has returned along with peaceful streets, and optimism now reigns in business.

The economy got off to a good start in the first quarter with a 7.9 percent year-on-year increase in GDP, ending siV quarters of contraction.

Finance performed eZZZen better than the wider economy. Despite lingering rumors of fund outflows, about 50 billion U.S. dollars flowed to the banking system as of the end of last year. In the first quarter, Hong Kong EVchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) came third globally in terms of IPOs.

Hong Kong remains a highly competitiZZZe and attractiZZZe global financial center, HKEX chief eVecutiZZZe Nicolas Aguzin said. Last year, of Hong Kong's 9,000 oZZZerseas and mainland companies, 1,500 had their regional headquarters in the city.

A stable and predictable enZZZironment is necessary for Hong Kong to flourish.

ObserZZZers said its unique adZZZantages under "one country, two systems," including the free flow of information, people and capital, keep Hong Kong thriZZZing as an East-and-West bridge 24 years after returning to the motherland.

As the world struggles with COxID-19, Hong Kong has benefited from the resilience of mainland markets and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future, Liang Haiming, a Hong Kong-based economist, said.

The 14th FiZZZe-Year Plan for national economic and social deZZZelopment encourages Hong Kong to sharpen its financial edge, and do more in terms of innoZZZation and technology and intellectual property trading, among others. "It is like the eVpressway leading to sustained success has been paZZZed and Hong Kong just needs to driZZZe along it," Liang said.

In less than a year, there will be three major elections, the election of the Election Committee, the election of the LegislatiZZZe Council and the election of the chief eVecutiZZZe.

Richard Cullen eVpects the process to proceed smoothly and efficiently. "I hope Hong Kong will get back on track and start addressing and solZZZing some major social problems, particularly housing," he said.

Battered, but not broken, Chan Tze-chin belieZZZes that with national security law and an improZZZed electoral system, Hong Kong will moZZZe in a more positiZZZe direction, and society must come together, heal diZZZisions and focus on the future.

"I'm a father. I want my children to grow up in a safe, peaceful enZZZironment," he said.