Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hails ‘timely and essential’ national security law in opening remarks at city’s legal week
- Chief executive says she will continue to back legislation without fear despite continued attacks by foreign governments
- Top judge defends city’s judiciary against suggestions its independence has been compromised by new law
China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, unanimously approved the new law on June 30. It was adopted by the city’s government and took effect at 11pm the same day.
“Since then, law and stability in society have been restored,” Lam said. “Now we have an enhanced system for Hong Kong to accurately and to comprehensively implement the ‘one country, two systems’ principle.
“Despite unjustified attacks by some foreign politicians and governments, I and my government will continue to stand fast to implement the national security law without fear or worry.”
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The law bans secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security. The maximum penalty for each crime is life imprisonment, although the suggested sentence for some minor offences is less than three years behind bars.
Officers of the new national security department have so far arrested at least 22 men and six women, with four of them held twice. Two men have been charged.
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Citing several articles of the city’s mini-constitution, Ma said the judiciary was free from any interference, and had independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.
“The requirement that the court discharges its constitutional responsibility or exercises judicial power independently is, I stress, not related to politics, and the court is therefore not concerned with politics,” Ma said.
“Article 25 of the Basic Law states that all are equal before the law, and this of course includes the executive authorities. In other words, no one is above the law. Not only that, no one is able to influence the court.”
Ma, who will end his term in January, issued an 18-page statement in September to warn against politicising the judiciary, and said any criticism of the courts and judges without proper grounds would be detrimental to public confidence in the system.
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He released the statement amid accusations concerning the impartiality of judges during hearings related to last year’s anti-government protests.
Monday’s ceremony also marked the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Hub and the official launch of the “Vision 2030 for Rule of Law”.
Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said the project was a 10-year initiative which sought to promote proper understanding and recognition of the rule of law through professional exchanges, research, and capacity building with stakeholders including young people, legal practitioners, and academics.
She hoped the initiatives would help the sustainable development of inclusive and rule-based societies at both local and international level.
