Hong Kong Officials Discuss National Security and Legal System Ahead of Anniversary
نظرة سريعة
- Hong Kong officials discuss achievements and future plans, focusing on national security and legal system improvements.
- Secretary for Justice Paul Lam emphasizes continuous work on subsidiary laws for clarity and certainty, stating appeals do not involve new evidence and classification as national security should not affect appeal prospects.
- New legislation clarifies national security offenses and vests certification power in the chief executive.
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Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule. Senior officials discuss the administration's achievements and future plans, with a focus on national security and the legal system.
As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok also described the defence of national security as “continuous work” to improve the city’s legal system, with subsidiary laws serving as a means to provide greater clarity and certainty.
“An appeal isn’t a retrial. The court will not hear new evidence and will only consider whether the judge made errors in the original verdict. I cannot see why classifying a case as national security would affect the prospects of an appeal,” he said.
Hong Kong passed new subsidiary legislation earlier this month to clarify the definition of national security offences by establishing a mechanism that vests certification power in the chief executive at any stage of proceedings.
The classification would affect the charges faced by defendants, including in relation to acts that occurred before the national security law came into force in 2020.
أسئلة مفتوحة
- How will the new legislation impact ongoing cases?
- What are the specific 'errors' courts can consider in appeals?
