Hong Kong national security: mainland China’s life sentence on US-based city resident for spying a reminder of lurking risks in society, John Lee warns

Chief executive stops short of providing details of detainee in mainland China and whether administration had offered help under reciprocal notification mechanism
He sounds alarm on ‘black violence’, referring to 2019 anti-government unrest, reminding public to stay vigilant also to soft resistance

Hong Kong national security law (NSL)

Jeffie Lam

Published: 11:15am, 16 May 2023

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A life sentence handed down by China to a US-based Hong Kong permanent resident over spying charges was a reminder that the city should stay vigilant to national security risks lurking in society, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu warned on Tuesday.

But the city leader stopped short of offering more details on the case concerning John Shing-wan Leung, such as whether his administration had provided any form of help for the 78-year-old resident.

“[Regarding] any person who is arrested by law enforcement agencies in mainland China, there is a reporting mechanism for such arrests to be related to Hong Kong authorities. This has been working well,” Lee told the media.

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He was referring to the reciprocal notification mechanism struck by both sides in 2017, which he said would allow family members of local detainees across the border to understand the situation, take necessary actions or seek help from city authorities.

Lee was quick to add that the case of Leung – a US-based Hong Kong permanent resident sentenced to life in prison on Monday after being convicted by the Suzhou court on spying charges in China – was a reminder that national security risks could be lurking in society.

Hong Kong leader John Lee. Photo: Jelly Tse

“We have stressed time after time that while Hong Kong’s situation is generally stable now, we should never lower our guard over national security risks and must stay vigilant,” he said.

“The ‘black violence’ and Hong Kong’s version of the colour revolution in 2019 should be our alarm bell reminding us to keep an eye on long-term risks,” he warned, using the term by authorities to describe the anti-government protests four years ago.

The city should also guard against any softer forms of resistance, Lee added.

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The life sentence imposed on Leung came two years after his arrest. The statement from the Suzhou court revealed Leung’s Hong Kong ID and US passport numbers but did not give further details on his background.

Mainland China also updated its anti-espionage legislation last month, expanding the definition of spying to ban the transfer of any information related to national security, including cyberattacks.

Under the law, those convicted of espionage activities deemed a threat to national security face a jail term ranging from 10 years to life.

In the past decade, China has intensified its spy war with the US and its allies as tensions rose over technology and national security intelligence.

Question and answer session between Hong Kong leader, lawmakers to be revamped

Separately, the first revamped “interactive exchange” session between the city’s leader and lawmakers will take place in the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Lee on Tuesday said he would gauge lawmakers’ views on three issues, namely: ways to promote core values centred on patriotism; consolidating the city’s role as an international education hub as well as fostering public-private partnership; and coming up with financing for megaprojects in future, such as the Northern Metropolis plan.

Lee earlier announced a change to the traditional question-and-answer session in which the chief executive takes questions from lawmakers. The revamp will comprise “interactive exchanges” focusing on policies of “vital importance”, with the first one covering national development.

While lawmakers generally welcomed the move, one said he was against the idea of the government setting the agenda for each session.