ExclusiveHong Kong’s domestic security law: no arrests yet in first month but will be used when needed, justice minister warns

Domestic law’s first 30 days in effect marked by relative calm compared with Beijing-decreed national security law, which led to 15 individuals detained in first month

While noting city has become more peaceful, Paul Lam says ‘law has to be used if it’s necessary because otherwise, it’s a useless piece of paper’

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Justice minister Paul Lam says tone of official “rebuttals” should be proportionate and authorities must not let things “get lost in translation”. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 9:00am, 22 Apr 2024Updated: 8:04am, 23 Apr 2024

Hong Kong’s new domestic national security law will be used when “there are really compelling circumstances”, justice minister Paul Lam Ting-kwok has said as he refuted suggestions not to invoke it immediately to “make people feel more comfortable”.

But he conceded that in responding to criticisms of the law, which turns a month old on Tuesday, the tone of official “rebuttals” should be proportionate and authorities must not let things “get lost in translation”.

So far, the new legislation has not been applied to any arrests, in stark contrast to the Beijing-imposed national security law that netted several people in the first few weeks of its enactment, not out of a desire to assuage concerns but the circumstances were very different now, Lam said.

In an exclusive interview with the Post, the secretary for justice also hinted that even though the new law’s most immediate impact had been the denial of early release of those convicted of national security crimes, correctional authorities could still exercise discretion.

“If any prisoner behaves properly, if they do not act in a way that causes us concern, I’m still very confident that the discretion will be exercised in his or her favour,” he said.

Lawmakers vote on the Article 23 bill in the Legislative Council last month. It was signed into law in just over three weeks after authorities concluded a one-month public consultation exercise. Photo: Elson Li

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect on March 23 after an expedited legislation process – the bill cleared the legislature and was signed into law in just over three weeks after authorities concluded a one-month public consultation exercise.