Hong Kong kicks off legal week activities, showcasing rule of law and defying US sanctions

Pro-establishment party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) staged a protest in front of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong on Monday against the US latest sanction bill. Photo: Courtesy of DAB

As Hong Kong kicked off legal week activities on Monday, officials from both central government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government reaffirmed the city’s unique strengthens as an international trade center and a legal and dispute resolution services hub, showcasing the city’s rule of law and defying the US-led smear via the latest sanction act against local judges and prosecutors. 

Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam on Monday hailed Hong Kong Legal Week as a “flagship event” that brings together judges, officials, and legal practitioners to exchange ideas, local media RTHK reported on Monday. And this week’s events, which include legal forums and panel discussions, will showcase the SAR’s advantages as a “super-connector.”

It will be the first time a special session is hosted for the Secretary for Justice during the week to answer questions and clarify misunderstandings about the National Security Law for Hong Kong, according to local government officials. 

Li Yongsheng, acting commissioner for China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, said at the first day of the legal week activities that Hong Kong can use its unique strengths to help further develop international trade laws with the central government’s support. 

This year’s event came after the city finalized plans to open a mainland-led international mediation centre, which would help resolve disputes related to belt and road projects, the South China Morning Post reported. 

“Hong Kong Legal Week begins today, the event showcases our renowned rule of law and legal hub status. I am honored to join the event,” Holden Chow, vice chairman of the city’s largest pro-establishment party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), told the Global Times on Monday. 

“Legal experts from across the world join us in Hong Kong today. They have confidence in our rule of law, and our legal system,” Chow said, noting that he did not see any expert agreeing with US absurd action in calling for sanction upon Hong Kong judges. 

“The US politicians and pundits often smear our rule of law, by spreading falsehoods. But our legal hub status and the hosting of Hong Kong Legal Week itself is good enough to refute all their false allegations. It also exposes the ignorance of these US politicians,” he said. 

Five US bipartisan lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate proposed the Hong Kong Sanctions Act against 49 Hong Kong judges, prosecutors and government officials last Friday. Such act sparked a widespread public outrage in the city.

While the city witnessed waves of protests in front of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong over the weekend, the protests continued on Monday. Lawmakers from multiple political parties staged protests outside the consulate. 

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairperson of the New People’s Party and convenor of the Executive Council, who joined the protests on Monday, was quoted as saying in local media reports that she strongly condemned so-called sanctions, which were considered as a smear against Hong Kong’s human rights record. 

The Chinese government has already passed the Anti-Foreign Sanction Law, but it needs to carefully consider if it’s suitable for implementation in Hong Kong, Lau said. 

There will be little impact from the sanctions except that it may cause some inconvenience to officials involved, but we do not worry about it given the good status of the rule of law in Hong Kong, she said. 

“We strongly condemn US politicians led by Congresswoman Young Kim in calling for sanction upon our judges. Their unscrupulous and absurd action will be doomed to fail. Our entire Hong Kong society does not fear their ridiculous threats,” Chow said, who was among protestors from the DAB on Monday.

“Their purpose is clear, one would recall the US’ proxies and puppets caused all chaos and mayhem in 2019, in order to jeopardize China’s sovereignty over HKSAR, jeopardize China’s territorial integrity. By perverting the course of justice, they are trying to protect US proxies and puppets, make sure that they are scot-free during the trial,” he said. 

Their action just exposed their sheer double standard. The US always claims to uphold rule of law, but now they are trampling rule of law of other jurisdictions, Chow said.