Published: 09:43, August 2, 2023 | Updated: 13:00, August 2, 2023
HKSAR govt opposes foreign legal bodies' attacks on NSL
By Wang Zhan

Banners of "National Security - Foundation of Stability and Prosperity" are seen in Admiralty, Hong Kong on April 12, 2023 as the National Security Education Day approaches. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY )

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government condemned overseas legal professional organizations on Tuesday for their slanders on the national security law in Hong Kong and related law enforcement actions.

A government spokesperson said in a statement that endangering national security was a very serious offense and no country, including those where the organizations concerned were located, would watch with folded arms acts and activities that endangered national security.

“The biased remarks made by the organizations concerned about the NSL show their extremely limited understanding on the NSL,” the spokesperson said.

The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and the law regarding the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

HKSAR government spokesperson

The NSL had provided clear definition to the actus reus and mens rea of four categories of offenses - namely secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, the spokesperson explained, adding that the law also stipulated that human rights shall be respected in safeguarding national security.

"The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and the law regarding the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation,” the spokesperson stressed.

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The eight persons concerned who had fled overseas were alleged to have continued to commit offenses under the NSL that endanger national security, the spokesperson said, adding that the police had the responsibility to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to bring them to justice.

In this file photo dated April 15, 2021, members of the Hong Kong Police Force march during a parade at an open day at the Police College in Hong Kong. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

“It is a common practice of the police and other law enforcement agencies to release information of fugitive offenders who have allegedly committed serious offenses and are wanted, and appeal to members of the public to assist in bringing fugitive offenders to justice. This is also squarely in line with the international practice,” the spokesperson said.

The eight persons concerned who had fled overseas were alleged to have continued to commit offenses under the NSL that endanger national security, the spokesperson said, adding that the police had the responsibility to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to bring them to justice

Kwok Wing-hang and Yam Kevin were both wanted by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force for allegedly committing offenses endangering national security, as they made use of their capacity as a barrister and a solicitor to smear the city’s rule of law and make slanderous remarks against judges and prosecutors, the spokesperson stressed.

“They advocated and supported foreign 'sanctions' against China and the HKSAR. Their acts have undermined the judicial system and overall interests of the HKSAR, and are suspected of seriously violating cardinal professional rules and ethics of a legal practitioner,” the spokesperson said.

The secretary for justice was duty-bound to lodge formal complaints to the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, so that the two professional bodies could independently handle these complaints and follow up according to the law and the established procedures, the spokesperson said.

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“The HKSAR government solemnly urges the organizations concerned to discern fact from fallacy and stop being manipulated by people with ulterior motives, immediately refrain from wantonly slandering and smearing the NSL and the implementation of the law in the HKSAR,” the spokesperson said.