Transparent consultation on Article 23 legislation could clarify misunderstandings, says Victor Dawes

The chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association believed the government would give serious consideration to calibrating a balance between safeguarding national security and protecting fundamental rights as enshrined in the Basic Law, as the Article 23 legislation will "no doubt" trigger a fresh round of debate over the future of the city.

Speaking at the ceremonial opening of the new legal year, Victor Dawes noted that there would likely be attacks on the legislation "contending that Hong Kong is no longer a free city and the rule of law is dead", though the remarks may not be bona fide.

He said the consultation process has to be transparent and thorough "to refute any suggestion that the government is not prepared to listen," while the new legislation has to be clear and precise.

Dawes added that the Association would strive to make the most out of the expertise of their members to convey comments and professional insights.

Separately, the president of the Law Society of Hong Kong Chan Chak-ming said there were a number of foreign attempts to interfere with judicial, prosecutorial, and governance integrity by threatening to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges, prosecutors, or government officials during the past year.

"These politically driven attempts, if undefended, will blur the facts and the legal principles and confuse the general public," he said at the ceremony.

Chan said he has visited many countries trying to clarify certain misunderstandings and misconceptions about the situation in Hong Kong in the past year, and hoped the Law Society could offer the overseas friends new perspectives about the actual situation to help them arrive at a more objective, fair and balanced view about the city.