Chen Hung-yee: National security law will be interpreted based on common law

Albert Chen Hung-yee, professor of the department of law of the University of Hong Kong and a member of the Committee for the Basic Law, said that the courts will interpret the national security law for Hong Kong based on common law and international human rights standard.

However, this would be subject to the Police and Department of Justice’s interpretation of the law as they are responsible for handling prosecutions. 

The enactment of the national security law will also depend on the development of the Sino-US relation.

Chen said on an online HKU forum that the Chinese government is meant to strengthen the “one country, two systems” principle by setting boundaries in the national security law, such as prohibiting advocacy of independence.

He added that national security law for Hong Kong would hardly solve the Hongkongers’ ethnic identity issues.

Chen criticized that the opposition antagonized the mainland authority, as they might refuse to stay in the Legislative Council for an extra year. He was worried about the city’s future, as the relationship between pan-democrats and pro-establishment camps continues to deteriorate.