National security law: Hong Kong academics might choose self-censorship to protect themselves, law dean warns
- Experts ask when mainland Chinese authorities will take over cases and how three-judge court will work
- Lack of clarity in various aspects of new law has raised concerns in academic community
University of Hong Kong law dean Fu Hualin joined other legal experts in seeking clarification of various aspects of the law which was tailor-made for the city and targets acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
The law, introduced last month, has sparked concerns over sweeping powers handed to police, the workings of a new Beijing office set up in the city, and the possible erosion of human rights.
Experts at the forum asked which national security cases might result in mainland authorities stepping in, whether there would be exemption for academic discussion, and how a panel of three judges would work when hearing a criminal trial under the law.
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Hong Kong publishers resort to self-censorship under new security law
The two-and-a-half-hour session was organised by the Law Society at its office in Central and attended by solicitors.