National Security in the Courtroom: Judicial Implementation of the National Security Law and its Legal, Political, and Societal Implications in Hong Kong
On July 13, 2024, the Centre for Public Law and Human Rights at City University of Hong Kong's School of Law successfully hosted a significant academic conference titled "National Security in the Courtroom: Judicial Implementation of the National Security Law and its Legal, Political and Societal Implications in Hong Kong." This event brought together distinguished legal scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the complexities and implications of Hong Kong's National Security Law on the legal system.
The conference began with an opening address by Professor Lin Feng, Dean of the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong, followed by an introduction from Professor Zhu Guobin, who set the stage for the conference by outlining its goals and framework. The discussions throughout the day covered various aspects of the National Security Law, from its legal foundations to its practical enforcement and effects on Hong Kong’s legal framework.
The first session, chaired by Professor Zhu Guobin, was filled with enriching discussions. Professor Lin Feng spoke on the judicial protection of human rights in Hong Kong before and after the implementation of the National Security Law. Professor Priscilla Leung discussed the legislative intent of Article 23 of the Hong Kong SAR Basic Law and its implications for the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle. Professor Guo Tianwu from Sun Yat-sen University explored how the national security laws of Hong Kong and Macao have been integrated within the Greater Bay Area. Barrister Dr. P.Y. Lo spoke on the interpretative provisions of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and their judicial enforcement, highlighting the dynamic parts of the local system.
In the second session, which focused on comparative studies of national security provisions, Professor Zhang Xiaoshan addressed the prohibition of abuse of fundamental rights under Article 2 of the National Security Law. Professor Zhu Han provided insights into the definitions of state secrets in China and its special administrative regions, and Professor Huang Mingtao compared seditious intentions within the legal contexts of Hong Kong and the U.S. Professor. Jiang Zhaoxin offered a comparative perspective on Hong Kong’s national security case law vis-à-vis the U.S. National Security Constitution and framework cases.
The afternoon discussions delved into the application and interpretation of the National Security Law in courtrooms. Professor Huang Mingtao chaired a session that included Barrister Anson Wong Yu Yat's analysis of judicial deference and national security. Barrister Steven Kwan highlighted the practical aspects of defending individuals accused under the national security law. Solicitor Ms. Celeste Lo provided an in-depth look at the challenges and difficulties in Hong Kong's national security proceedings. Ms. Li Yueqi and Ms. Chen Yizhen discussed the practical conditions for applying the bail system under the National Security Law.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by Professor Zhu Guobin and Dr. P.Y. Lo, summarizing the discussions and thanking all participants for their contributions to a fruitful dialogue on the rule of law and national security in Hong Kong.
This event was pivotal in discussing the direct impacts of the National Security Law on Hong Kong's legal, judicial, and law enforcement frameworks, fostering a deeper understanding among the legal community about localized law implementation and contributing to ongoing discussions about legal practices and judicial safeguards in Hong Kong.
Links to past events:
- National Security Law Roundtable Seminar Series (VI): Safeguarding National Security--Basic Law Article 23 Legislation Forum Successfully Organized
- Roundtable Series on National Security Law (V): Hong Kong’s National Security Law: Procedural and Sentencing Implications
- Roundtable Series on National Security Law (IV) Hong Kong in the Post-National Security Law Era: Some Reflections from International Law and Relations Perspectives
- Roundtable Series on National Security Law (III) - International Symposium on the National Security Law of Hong Kong: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives
- Roundtable Series on National Security Law(II) Hong Kong’s National Security Law: Implications for Companies and their Human Rights Responsibilities
- Roundtable Series on National Security Law(I) ：On “National Security Legislation of the HKSAR”
2024年7月13日，香港城市大學法律學院公法與人權中心成功舉辦了題為“法庭中的國安法：香港國家安全法的司法實施及其法律、政治和社會影響”學術研討會。此次會議聚集了來自世界各地的傑出法學學者、實務者和政策制定者，深入探討了香港國家安全法的複雜性及其對香港法律體系的影響。
會議以城市大學法學院院長林峰教授的開幕詞開始，隨後朱國斌教授進行了會議目標和框架的介紹。當天的討論涵蓋了國安法的各個方面，從其法律基礎到實際執行及對香港法律系統的影響等。
第一場討論由朱國斌教授主持。會議內容豐富。林峰教授講述了國安法實施前後香港人權的司法保護問題。梁美芬教授探討了香港特別行政區基本法第23條的立法意圖及其對“一國兩制”原則的影響。中山大學的郭天武教授探討了港澳國安法在大灣區的融合實施。大律師羅沛然先生深入探討了國安條例的解釋條款及其司法實施。
在第二場討論中，討論轉向國安法條款的比較研究，章小杉教授討論了國安法第2條關於基本權利濫用的禁止。朱晗教授提供了關於中國及其特別行政區國家秘密定義的見解，而黃明濤教授則比較了香港與美國法律背景下的煽動意圖，江照信教授提供了香港國安案例法的比較視角。
在下午的討論環節，與會者參與了關於國安法在法庭應用和解釋場景的討論。黃明濤教授主持的一場討論中，包括了大律師黃宇逸先生對司法順從與國家安全的分析，以及大律師關文渭先生就危害國家安全罪被告人的辯護實務要點的闡述。羅天恩女士深入分析了香港國家安全訴訟中的挑戰和困難。李悅祺女士及陳仪臻女士分析了香港國安法保釋制度的實際應用條件。
會議最後一場討論集中探討了國家安全法律的更廣泛影響和應用。劉瑛教授討論了香港法院在本地國家安全案件中使用外國人權案例的研究，而黃文婷博士則檢視了煽動案件中的情境表現、應用和限制。黃希朗先生和趙紫晴女士講述了如何以普通法方法解釋國安法的判刑制度，特別是中國內地法律在終審法院呂世瑜案中的相關性。姚君源先生和劉雨柯先生則討論了國安法時代憲法遊戲中的政治動態和法院的憲法解釋。
會議最後環節，朱國斌教授和羅沛然博士致閉幕詞，他們總結了當天的討論要點和意義，並對所有參與者為豐富對香港法治和國家安全的討論所做的學術貢獻表示感謝。
此次活動集中討論了國家安全法對香港法治、法律制度、司法制度帶來的直接影響，促進了法律界對法律在地化實施的更深入的理解，為持續討論香港法律實踐和司法保障貢獻了力量。