Chief justice visits Beijing as minister targets Article 23

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kuinung left the city yesterday evening to embark on a four-day trip to Beijing, the second of his tenure, where he will meet the new head of the country’s highest court.

Cheung set off as justice minister Paul Lam Ting-kwok reiterated that local authorities hoped to finish drafting legislation for the city’s own national security law this year or next year and fulfil their constitutional obligation under the Basic Law.

The minister referred to Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution, which requires Hong Kong to enact its own laws prohibiting any act of treason, secession, sedition, and subversion against the central government.

It must also outlaw theft of state secrets, as well as ban foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the city and local political organisations or bodies from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies.

“Hong Kong has been valued as an international hub that respects the spirit of the law, human rights and freedom. There is no reason we will shoot ourselves in the foot,” Lam told a radio programme yesterday.

“We will definitely strike a balance between safeguarding national security and protecting human rights and freedoms. … The two do not necessarily conflict with each other.”

Meanwhile, Cheung is expected to meet Supreme People’s Court chief justice and president Zhang Jun, who took office in March, during his trip to mainland China.

During his first trip to Beijing in 2021, Hong Kong’s top judge was urged by the country’s thenchief justice Zhou Qiang to help ensure only “patriots” governed Hong Kong.

Zhou also urged Hong Kong’s judiciary to deepen exchanges with its mainland counterparts to “strengthen judicial officers’ consciousness for the country and concepts of the nation”.

During his current visit, Cheung will stop at the smart court laboratory for the Supreme People’s Court, the Beijing Financial Court, and the Beijing International Commercial Court to exchange views on the increasing use of technology in courtrooms.

He will also meet the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the country’s top agency overseeing legal prosecution, as well as members of the Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Visits to the Ministry of Justice and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office are also on the agenda.

Cheung will be accompanied by Chief Judge of the High Court Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor, Court of Appeal vice-president Carlye Chu Fun-ling and Judiciary Administrator Esther Leung Yuet-yin.

Justice Roberto Ribeiro, a permanent judge on the Court of Final Appeal, will serve as acting chief justice in Cheung’s absence.