Hong Kong must step up efforts in safeguarding national security

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 […]

Iran executes former official for ‘spying for Britain’

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 […]

The relationship between the Hong Kong National Security Law and local laws in judicial application

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 […]

NPCSC interpretation removes doubts, strengthens national security

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 […]

Political significance of NPCSC interpretation of NSL

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 […]

NPCSC interpretation crucial to cementing constitutional order

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 […]

National Security Law interpretation a welcome act

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, […]