Teresa Cheng takes reins as Hong Kong justice secretary with ‘prime mission’ to uphold rule of law

Arbitration legal eagle Cheng also says ‘one country, two systems’ is the most favourable and appropriate arrangement for city

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam (centre) with Teresa Cheng and Rimsky Yuen. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:15am, 5 Jan 2018Updated: 12:39pm, 23 Jan 2018

A day before taking over as Hong Kong’s new justice minister, veteran barrister Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said her “prime mission” would be to uphold the rule of law in what is now the most politically charged hot seat in government.

Outgoing Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, leaving office on Saturday, declared that throughout his tenure he had acted by the book and stuck to legal principles in handling sensitive issues that earned him much criticism.

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The State Council on Friday announced the formal appointment of Cheng, an arbitration expert nominated for the job by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who presented the pair to the media at her office in Admiralty.

“The prime mission of the secretary for justice is to uphold the rule of law,” Cheng said.

Referring to acrimonious debate on Hong Kong’s constitutional situation and whether its high degree of autonomy under its governing formula was being eroded by Beijing, she said: “One country, two systems is the most favourable and appropriate arrangement for Hong Kong.

Teresa Cheng will be Hong Kong’s fourth secretary for justice. Photo: Felix Wong

“At times, people may have different views about ‘one country, two systems’ and perhaps also the Basic Law. However, if we insist on applying legal principles, objectively and rationally analysed the Basic Law, which is promulgated by the National People’s Congress and in accordance with the constitution of the PRC [People’s Republic of China], we will ultimately arrive at the same legal conclusion.”

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