Beijing praises Hong Kong’s biggest lawyer group for neutrality during passage of Article 23 law
- Law Society president Chan Chak-ming says Beijing pleased with group’s use of simple and plain language to explain legislation to local and overseas audiences
- He backs independent judiciary to ensure balance between safeguarding national security and protecting human rights
Chan Chak-ming, president of the Law Society, said on Friday that Beijing officials were particularly pleased with the professional body’s use of simple and plain language to explain the legislation to local and overseas audiences
“The society is confident that safeguarding national security and protecting human rights and freedoms is not a zero-sum game. And with an independent judiciary, [both] could be able to strike a balance,” Chan said at a press conference, as his delegation wrapped up a four-day visit to the capital.
Chan also revealed central government officials they met had asked the body to continue to uphold the principle of the rule of law in Hong Kong and make contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing principle.
Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance last month, fast-tracking the legislation required under Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.
Western countries have accused authorities of harming the rights and freedoms of Hongkongers by enacting the latest law.
During the one-month consultation period, the society, as well as the Bar Association, had tried to seek a clearer definition of “theft of state secrets” in its submission.
Chan said central government officials had voiced approval for the Law Society’s efforts to stay neutral and professional.
“Leaders of relevant ministries and commissions fully affirmed the Law Society had upheld its neutrality and professionalism in major legal issues,” he said.
Hong Kong’s Article 23 security law needs public interest defence: lawyers
Chan said that despite the law being passed, it still needed to be explained to the international community.
“The legislation is largely the same as similar security laws of the Western countries,” he said. “Parts of Hong Kong’s security legislation have taken reference from or been modelled on the National Security Act of Britain.”
The Beijing visit has been an annual event for the society since the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997.
Chan said this time his delegation visited 12 government agencies and organisations, including the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Basic Law Committee under the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, Ministry of Justice, Supreme People’s Court and All China Lawyers Association.
Chan cited officials as saying during the delegation’s meeting with the State Council’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission that Hong Kong lawyers, with their expertise in overseas legislation, could help nationally owned as well as private companies go global.
“From the leaders’ words, the central government believes that Hong Kong lawyers can bring many opportunities,” he said. “I also take this opportunity to encourage more members of the Law Society to actively explore the mainland market and provide support for state-owned enterprises to go abroad.”
Top Beijing official calls on Hong Kong to cement status as international city
Chan said his delegation also visited the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the General Administration of Sport for the first time to explain how the city’s legal profession could provide services for the relevant sectors.
Society vice-president Roden Tong Man-lung said the visit included meetings with the Peking University Law School and the Renmin University of China Law School, where they met professors and students.
The society also planned to cooperate with Renmin University and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law in launching a short-term course on cross-border legal services, he added.
The society and the Peking University Law School have jointly run a similar 32-hour course for its law school students since 2019, and 150 students have been trained so far.
“The aim is to help students understand more about common law and the multi-language working environment involved in foreign legal services,” Tong said. “It also aims to help the country train more legal talents.”
The Law Society is the professional body for the city’s solicitors and has more than 13,000 members.
