Does Hong Kong retain the 鈥榬ule of law鈥�?
Does Hong Kong retain the 鈥榬ule of law鈥�?
Hong Kong retains the 鈥榬ule of law鈥� and an 鈥榠ndependent judiciary鈥�, Legislative Councillor Dominic Lee has told the 麻豆约拍.
The Hong Kong lawmaker defended a national security crackdown which has all but eliminated the pro-democracy movement in the former British colony.
In July, Beijing-backed authorities in the city put up bounties for eight pro-democracy activists living abroad whom they accuse of 鈥榮ecession and collusion with foreign powers鈥�.
The bounties sparked an international outcry and follow a sweeping national security law which came into force three years ago.
However Mr Lee told HARDtalk鈥檚 Stephen Sackur that Hong Kong retains an 鈥榠ndependent judiciary鈥� and the activists would face a 鈥榝air trial鈥� if they returned.
鈥楬ong Kong is ranked 22nd out of 140 jurisdiction in terms of rule of law,鈥� said Mr Lee.
鈥業f they, in fact, did commit a crime that is in regards to national security, they should be prosecuted.鈥�
Chief Executive of Hong Kong John Lee has described the eight as 鈥榮treet rats who should be avoided鈥� and said authorities would 鈥榚xhaust all means鈥� to pursue them鈥�.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Under Beijing's "one country, two systems" policy, the people of Hong Kong enjoy wider freedoms compared to those living in the mainland.
However, pro-democracy protests in 2019 paved the way for the national security law, which came into force in June 2020. Police have since arrested 260 people for violating it.
Critics have accused Hong Kong of becoming a police state.
