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National security law: Beijing lays down new to-do list for Hong Kong judges, civil servants and law enforcement officers
- At high-powered forum on national security legislation, top mainland Chinese officials cite international law to justify such aspects as detaining offenders without bail
- ‘No excuse’ for officials not to do their jobs, says central government’s national security chief in Hong Kong
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Beijing has laid down a new to-do list for Hong Kong, spelling out judicial, administrative and law enforcement officers’ obligation beyond political neutrality to enforce the city’s national security legislation, and urging legislators to catch up on formulating and amending related local laws for a more holistic approach covering every aspect of safeguarding China’s sovereignty.
At a high-powered forum on the national security legislation on Monday, top mainland Chinese officials cited international law to justify such aspects as detaining offenders without bail and holding trials without juries.
They also made it clear that China’s top legislative body would be the final authority in interpreting the application of the law in Hong Kong, and judges would have to seek the decision of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee when necessary.
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Monday’s event was organised by Hong Kong’s justice department, four days after President Xi Jinping, at the Chinese Communist Party’s centenary celebrations, set protecting national security as a top priority for Hong Kong and urged the city to focus next on its legal and enforcement aspects under Beijing’s comprehensive jurisdiction.
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Since Beijing imposed the sweeping law on Hong Kong a year ago to ban acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, top local officials have credited it for restoring peace and stability in the city after the anti-government protests of 2019, and undertaken to follow up with related legislation to ensure its complete enforcement.
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