The US consul general to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Gregory May, recently lamented that the latest interpretation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is tantamount to an erosion of the independence of our judiciary. That Mr May seemed to harbor such a notion […]
It has been more than two years since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL). Although the law has helped the city restore order from chaos, its implementation still encounters some practical challenges. The most recent example is the debate over whether Timothy Owen, a UK-based lawyer, can represent Jimmy Lai […]
The National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) has been widely criticized but not widely understood by the Western media and politicians. Not surprisingly, the recent interpretation of the NSL by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) received a hostile reception from US Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao Gregory May. […]
An aerial picture taken on July 15, 2021 shows the Jordan river flowing through the Beteha (Bethsaida Valley) into the northern part of the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Tiberias, one of the main water sources in Israel. (PHOTO / AFP) TIBERIAS — When the floodgates are open, a torrent of water gushes into a […]
In a strongly worded response to the White House decision to extend and expand Deferred Enforced Departure for certain Hong Kong residents in the United States, the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Friday urged Washington to "forsake the pipe dream of containing China with Hong Kong", and […]
One of the significant consequences of the recent interpretation by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law for Hong Kong is that it has forced the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to reflect more deeply on how best to implement the NSL in its entirety to […]
Traditionally, Lunar New Year, often called Spring Festival, represents the desire for family reunions and prosperity. Residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region received two timely gifts on the eve of the Year of the Rabbit — quarantine-free travel between the HKSAR and the Chinese mainland, which resumed early this month, and cancellation of […]
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, underscored the importance of fully and accurately implementing the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) at a symposium last Friday. The following day the central government appointed Zheng Yanxiong, former director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of […]
Speaking at a symposium last Friday on ensuring the accurate enforcement of the National Security Law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, underscored the positive role of the NSL in ending the city’s chaos and restoring its prosperity, and […]
Speaking at a symposium last Friday on ensuring the accurate enforcement of the National Security Law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, underscored the positive role of the NSL in ending the city’s chaos and restoring its prosperity, and […]
This undated handout file picture provided by Khabar Online news agency shows former Iranian deputy of defense minister Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national, during an interview in Tehran. (KHABAR ONLINE / AFP) TEHRAN – Former Iranian deputy defense minister Alireza Akbari was executed on charges of "espionage against the country," the Mizan news agency of […]
Editor’s note: The following is the opening statement of Grenville Cross SC at a seminar on “Ensuring the Accurate Implementation of the National Security Law” sponsored by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on Jan 13, 2023. I am most grateful to the Chinese […]
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu requested an interpretation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) from the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) over a legal matter arising from whether Timothy Owen, a British barrister who is not qualified to practice law in Hong Kong, may […]
The focus of the upcoming high-level meetings between Japan and the United States, which will culminate with a summit between US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Friday, is security cooperation. Right before the summit, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will join […]
On Dec 30, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) delivered an interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) at the request of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who had requested clarification on whether overseas lawyers can handle cases involving national security issues in the […]
In the colonial days when the Hong Kong Supreme Court, the highest local judicial authority, gave its decisions on appeal cases, they were subject to final appeal to London’s Privy Council. There were numerous instances of the Privy Council overturning decisions of the Supreme Court, which was tantamount to a slap in the face of […]
On Dec 30, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) delivered an interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong at the request of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on whether overseas lawyers can handle national security cases in the city’s courts. It was a […]
In the colonial days when the Hong Kong Supreme Court, the highest local judicial authority, gave its decisions on appeal cases, they were subject to final appeal to London’s Privy Council. There were numerous instances of the Privy Council overturning decisions of the Supreme Court, which was tantamount to a slap in the face of the […]
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) interpreted Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong last Friday, the first interpretation of the NSL since it took effect in June 2020, clarifying and affirming the overriding powers of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong […]
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) delivered last week an interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL), a move which is necessary because only the NPCSC has the right to clarify any ambiguity over the legislative intent of the NSL so that the law […]
The 38th meeting of the 13th Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress ended last Friday. As anticipated, the NPCSC voted to approve the interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the National Security Law for Hong Kong. The request for the Standing Committee’s interpretation was submitted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Nov […]
On Nov 28, 2022, under instruction from the Central People’s Government, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu submitted a report on the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and recommended that a request be put to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) for an interpretation of relevant provisions of the National Security […]
Grenville Cross says the top legislative body has displayed great restraint and pointed Hong Kong in the right direction; the problem has been resolved in a manner compatible with “one country, two systems”. On Dec 30, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) adopted an interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the […]
A day before New Year’s Eve, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress — the nation’s top legislative body — in response to a request submitted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered an interpretation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong to clarify whether criminal […]
In response to a report submitted by the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to the State Council, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) delivered its interpretation of Article 14 and Article 47 of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong on Dec 30, 2022. The significance […]
On Nov 28, 2022, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal (CFA) failed to respect the overriding status of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong and the vital importance of safeguarding national security by “mechanically” following the judicial procedures of the common law. Accordingly, it rejected the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s […]
By confirming the power of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s chief executive to decide whether an act involves national security or whether the relevant evidence involves State secrets when such questions arise in the adjudication of a national security case in the SAR, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s first interpretation of the National […]
A few years back, social unrest and all sorts of violence related to it were rampant, causing serious damage to Hong Kong. Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who appeared in the Admiralty area frequently during that time, is alleged to have been a key figure behind the insurrection that almost destroyed the special administrative region. Back then […]
Before the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress commenced on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had already said that he would welcome and look forward to its decision to initiate deliberation on interpreting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s National Security Law. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, […]
Those claiming that Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Hong Kong media group Next Digital, who faces charges under the special administrative region's national security law, has the right to hire any lawyer he likes to defend him, even if he or she has no local qualifications, are the same ones that he colluded with or […]