Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Hong Kong leader reassures on national security legislation

Published 06/22/2020, 10:30 PM
Updated 06/23/2020, 12:52 AM
© Reuters. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a news conference in Beijing

© Reuters. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a news conference in Beijing

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday she will not select judges to preside over cases brought under the city's new security law, an apparent attempt to assuage concerns about the controversial legislation.

Lam said that, as chief executive, she would instead appoint a panel of judges for all courts based on recommendations from a judicial body.

"When one day there is national security cases, the responsibility to assign which judge on that list to handle a case still lies on the judiciary of Hong Kong," Lam told reporters on Tuesday. "The Executive is not responsible for that."

The planned national security law has stoked fears among democracy activists in Hong Kong and some foreign governments that Beijing is further eroding extensive autonomy promised when Britain handed it back to China under a "one country, two systems" formula in 1997.

The city's common law-based legal system is widely seen as the bedrock of that formula, underpinning its status as a global financial hub.

China says the national security law, which is expected to be passed next week, will target only a small group of troublemakers as it tackles separatism, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong.

However, the full details of the legislation have not been made public and Lam acknowledged on Tuesday she also is yet to view the entire document.

Reports in Chinese state media over the weekend had suggested Lam could select judges for related cases, triggering alarm among some lawyers who called it a serious challenge to Hong Kong's coveted judicial independence.

Critics have also raised concerns that the law will exclude foreign judges, commonly used in Hong Kong, from presiding over national security cases. The fear is that could leave judges more favourable to Beijing to handle those cases.

"In the released details of the legislation, the problem concerning nationality of judges handling national security cases is not yet mentioned," Lam said.

© Reuters. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a news conference in Beijing

The top decision-making body of China's parliament has scheduled another meeting for June 28-30 and the law, which will pave the way for the biggest change to the city's way of life, is expected to be enacted then.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.