// Dominic Lee said that HK’s judiciary has a well-earned reputation for its fair and independent approach to law and justice.//
In an unprecedented display of overreach, five U.S. Congress members have proposed a bill to scrutinize 49 Hong Kong officials, including judges and prosecutors, for potential inclusion in a sanctions list. This act, brazen and crude, threatens to destabilize the judicial independence of Hong Kong, an autonomy our judiciary fiercely upholds.
Hong Kong's judiciary has a well-earned reputation for its fair and independent approach to law and justice, a commitment reflected in its 22nd rank on the World Justice Project's rule of law index. The judiciary enjoys the robust backing of the Hong Kong community, and any intent to intimidate or interfere from external entities is bound to fail.
Notable figures under consideration for potential sanctions include Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Chief Justice of the Final Appeal Andrew Cheung, Commissioner of Police Siu Chak-yee, and the Director of Public Prosecutions Yang Mei Kei, among others.
In response, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government issued a resolute statement, decrying the move as an intimidation tactic, and vehemently condemning it as a political stunt marked by malicious intent. The SAR government also warned that such actions could potentially constitute criminal contempt of court or obstruction of justice.
Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, our judiciary has meted out justice independently and in accordance with the law. Lawbreakers who have endeavored to stir up unrest against China have been duly sanctioned. As such, Hong Kong has transitioned from turmoil to governance, restoring stability under the rule of law, and enhancing protection of our residents' rights and freedoms.
In the "2022 Rule of Law Index", Hong Kong continues to earn high global rankings, with its "Order and Security" rating at sixth place worldwide, surpassing the U.S. and several Western countries that have unreasonably targeted Hong Kong's rule of law and human rights. Hong Kong's shift from chaos to governance has been marked by the effective upholding of national security, restoration of societal order, significant improvement in the business environment, and better protection of citizens' rights.
Yet, external hostile forces persist in their attempts to discredit Hong Kong, with a particularly notorious group of agitators who have fled to the U.S. to evade justice. Among them is Anna Kwok, an individual sought by the National Security Department and now residing in the U.S. on a student visa while serving as the "Executive Director" of the "Hong Kong Democracy Committee" (HKDC), an organization advocating "Hong Kong independence."
Earlier this year, Anna Kwok made a call to action, rallying anti-China organizations to demand the U.S. to refuse the attendance of Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka Chiu at the APEC informal leaders' summit. Her recent attempts at sanctions expose her agenda of colluding with external forces to harm Hong Kong.
In conclusion, U.S. politicians continue their relentless pursuit of aligning with such troublemakers to exploit the "Hong Kong card" in an attempt to curb China's development, an approach that is both presumptuous and distasteful. Despite previous sanctions on Hong Kong officials by the U.S., local officials have always remained steady. Hong Kong's judicial independence, safeguarded by Article 85 of the Basic Law, will not tolerate external interference. It is incumbent on the SAR government to respond decisively and firmly.
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