Lee Bo’s case highlights grey areas in Hong Kong’s Basic Law on cross-border criminal investigations

Simon Young says the possible abduction of five Hong Kong booksellers shows Hong Kong needs a new legal framework to ensure transparency and protection of rights in cases involving mainland officials

Hong Kong bookseller disappearances

Simon Young

Published: 5:17pm, 19 Jan, 2016

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Even if mainland officials were involved, this does not necessarily mean the Basic Law was breached.

Many feel “one country, two systems” has suffered a serious blow from the mysterious circumstances of Lee Bo’s case, but it is too soon to conclude that the Basic Law has been violated.

If Lee crossed the border voluntarily and on his own, there would be no Basic Law issue. If private individuals unconnected to the mainland government were involved in forcing or persuading Lee to cross the border then, again, it is difficult to see this as a constitutional crisis, even though such individuals may have committed ordinary crimes.

READ MORE: China finally confirms it has detained Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo after his Swedish associate is paraded on state television

There are a number of indications, however, that mainland officials were implicated in Lee’s entry. First there are Lee’s statements that he is “assisting an investigation” on the mainland. The nature of the books sold by Lee’s bookstore, coupled with the disappearances of his four associates, suggest a criminal investigation into offences of spreading rumours or slander to subvert state power or other national security offences.

Photographs of the bookstore shareholders Gui Minhai (left) and Lee Bo are taped to barriers outside the China Liaison Office during a protest in Hong Kong. Five people linked to a Causeway Bay bookstore which sold books critical of mainland Chinese leaders have apparently been abducted. Photo: EPA

Then there was the entry itself without the usual immigration clearances, suggesting official intervention. Finally, there is the unexplained need for Lee and his associates to remain on the mainland indefinitely if the “investigation” relates only to their associate Gui Minhai’s alleged case of vehicle homicide.

Even if mainland officials were involved, this does not necessarily mean the Basic Law was breached because there are grey areas when it comes to cross-border criminal investigations.

Certainly an abduction and forced rendition by mainland officials would constitute a serious infringement of the “one country, two systems” principle, but there are multiple ways to cause someone to cross the border. A chat in a cha chaan teng, a phone call or a text message may be all that is needed to incite a person to make the trip.

One of the missing Hong Kong booksellers, Gui Minhai, in a screen grab from China Central Television in which he claims to have turned himself in for a hit-and-run accident 11 years ago. Photo: SCMP Pictures

There is no consensus among countries as to whether “luring” a suspect to enter the territory of the arresting state is a violation of international law. United States courts have sanctioned the practice, but other countries have objected to it.

There is no consensus as to whether ‘luring’ a suspect to enter the arresting state is a violation of international law

In Hong Kong, the issue must be considered under the framework of the Basic Law. According to the chief executive’s January 4 statement, “only legal enforcement agencies in Hong Kong have the legal authority to enforce laws in Hong Kong”.

But the position is more nuanced as reflected in the secretary for justice’s qualified remarks at the opening of the legal year: “Except properly permitted under our laws, neither unauthorised criminal investigation nor unlawful arrest within the jurisdiction by anyone or any authority shall be tolerated”.

The key word is “unauthorised”. Under the Basic Law, specific mainland offices are authorised to carry out official duties in Hong Kong. The three main offices are the liaison office, the ministry of foreign affairs and the People’s Liberation Army.

Demonstrators march during a protest over the disappearance of the booksellers. The banner at the centre reads, “Against political kidnapping. Safeguarding one country, two systems. Demanding the immediate release of the five people from Causeway Bay Books.” Photo: Reuters

Where the grey area lies is whether it can be said that the monitoring of national security matters is part of their official duties in Hong Kong.

The liaison office has an open-ended function to undertake “other tasks” assigned by the central government. China’s National Security Law, passed in July 2015, provided that Hong Kong had responsibilities to preserve national security.

So long as such officials comply with local law, it is arguable that monitoring for national security is a function incidental to their respective liaison, foreign affairs and defence roles.

A police officer on duty outside China's Liaison Office during a protest in Hong Kong. The disappearance of five booksellers specialising in publications critical of Beijing has stoked fears of mainland authorities using shadowy tactics that erode the “one country, two systems” formula. Photo: Reuters

These arguments serve only to highlight the absence of a clear legal regime governing what mainland officials can and cannot do in Hong Kong to investigate mainland crime. Take the example of surveillance. The Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance only applies to Hong Kong public officers. A mainland official who enters as a visitor to conduct a criminal investigation in Hong Kong would probably run afoul of his or her immigration permission.

Another murky area is the use of Hong Kong residents by mainland entities to conduct surveillance

The position is less clear for those already stationed here. Can they conduct as much surveillance as any private resident under the law? Does the surveillance have to be within the scope of their authorised official duties? Does that extend beyond national security, defence and foreign affairs?

Another murky area is the use of Hong Kong residents by mainland entities to conduct surveillance for mainland investigations. Should such individuals be subject to greater duties under the law, given constitutional rights to privacy?

A proper legal regime in this area would need to start with the position that no mainland official, whether stationed or not, shall conduct any criminal investigation in Hong Kong unless the Hong Kong government has provided informed consent to the investigation.

The national flag, right, flies alongside the Hong Kong flag in Central. Photo: Bloomberg

The scope would need to be broad enough to capture contracted or otherwise enlisted private people.

In deciding whether to give consent, the government would need to consider a number of matters including the ability of Hong Kong authorities themselves to investigate and share the information, whether it concerns central or local affairs, likely respect for Hong Kong laws and individual rights, and the seriousness of the matter.

Such a regime would hopefully contribute to more public awareness of the work and activities of mainland officials in Hong Kong. An annual report to the legislature could be standardised.

In their article on political policing in Hong Kong, Hualing Fu and Richard Cullen noted that the “use of subtle, ideally even undetectable, political surveillance and harassment techniques has proven more effective in silencing dissenting voices than full-blown political prosecutions”.

Assurances of adhering to the Basic Law given by central government officials will provide little comfort if the Basic Law itself does not provide clear guidance.

Lee Bo’s case highlights grey areas in Hong Kong’s Basic Law on cross-border criminal investigations

READ MORE: China finally confirms it has detained Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo after his Swedish associate is paraded on state television

READ MORE: Experts sceptical at Gui Minhai’s ‘illogical’ surrender