HK eyes more public participation in upholding rule of law

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li on Monday opened the city's Legal Week with a vow that the SAR will continue to treasure the rule of law while encouraging more public engagement in protecting it.

The Department of Justice is hosting a series of webinars Nov 2-6 that bring together local and international legal professionals to share their insights and experiences. It also announced the launch the Hong Kong Legal Hub and Vision 2030 for Rule of Law, long-term projects aimed at enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international legal hub and promoting and strengthening the rule of law.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lam said Hong Kong remained an ideal place for legal services with its strengths, including the rule of law and an independent common law judiciary.

However, the violent protests over the past year had undermined the public perception of the rule of law, she said.

Lam expressed sadness at the "unjustified attacks" against the city's judicial officers and their families and said such acts were "not to be tolerated".

Since last November, there have been increasing incidences of publishing the personal information, or "doxing", of judicial officers on social media platforms, most of whom have presided over trials related to the anti-government protests.

The Court of First Instance on Friday granted an interim injunction, sought by the secretary for justice, restraining anyone from unlawfully and willfully attacking and harassing the judicial officers.

"I…would once again urge everyone in society, regardless of his or her political stance, to support the rule of law and respect the courts, judges and their rulings," said Lam.

Chief Justice Ma, in his speech at the same event, noted that the independence of justice also meant independence from politics. The rule of law remains a core feature that everyone in society should cherish and protect, and Hong Kong could not afford to see the rule of law undermined, he said.

Secretary for Justice Cheng said the department had started to implement public education and school education under the scheme to enhance the awareness of the rule of law and the understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law.

Earlier this year, the department launched a series of animated videos for the general public and local community. In the new 2020/2021 school year, they also collaborated with local schools to organize interactive workshops to engage the young students, said Cheng.

In her the 2019 Policy Address, Lam offered support for "Vision 2030", a 10-year initiative by the Department of Justice to promote proper understanding and recognition of the rule of law. In the 2020-21 Budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po earmarked about HK$450 million ($58 million) for the project.

In addition, the Hong Kong government established the "Legal Hub" in Hong Kong's Central district, providing at least three buildings to accommodate offices of local, regional, and international law-related organizations.

The law-related organizations in the Legal Hub are expected to strengthen and consolidate Hong Kong's status as a center for legal, deal-making, and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, Lam said.