Engage - don't isolate

Wallis Wang

Hong Kong businessmen and officials should approach overseas businesses and explain the city's situation instead of "self-isolating," says former secretary for commerce and economic development Frederick Ma Si-hang.

Ma said the United States, Britain and Australia all have laws protecting their national security and yet displayed double standards by criticizing Hong Kong's new domestic security law.

But Hong Kong's overseas trading will not be affected by foreign criticisms of Article 23, he said.

"The overseas business sector is aware of what is going on and we don't have to attach too much attention to what foreign politicians say," Ma said.

"But I also suggest the government should - despite sanctions against some Hong Kong officials - still organize trips to Western countries to explain Basic Law Article 23.

"We cannot stay at home claiming we are an international financial center - we should go out."

Hong Kong nearly totally closed during the pandemic and did not have much interaction overseas, affecting its status as a financial hub, Ma said.

Although some Western countries are not friendly toward Hong Kong, the city must seize opportunities to promote itself overseas, he said, adding it would be more effective if the local business sector would participate.

He called for cooperation between officials and businessmen to maintain Hong Kong's status and avoid the city becoming isolated. Hong Kong should also maintain a sense of crisis and "never be complacent," Ma said, as many countries are trying to take away the city's "golden bowl," including Singapore.

"Singapore's stock market was weak in the past but it attracted a lot of wealth by opening up borders ahead of us amid the pandemic, when we were 'sick,' so it surpassed us in some areas," he said.

To catch up with Singapore, the government should impose policies to attract family-owned offices and innovation companies to move to the city, Ma said, warning that Hong Kong should not rely too much on mainland support.

He said Hong Kong should avoid "blind political loyalty" and letting politics affect existing mechanisms, as one of the characteristics of an international financial center that attracts foreign investments is respect for the city's existing mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said whether people will be guilty of publishing state secrets under Article 23 depends on their intention and evidence.

When charged with theft of state secrets, although defendants have to bear the responsibility of proof for their defense, the standard of proof is the lowest among all existing standards in Hong Kong, he said.

Lam said courts might find it sufficient if defendants say they are "really unaware" that it is unlawful disclosure of state secrets.

"Whenever defendants raise evidence or points that the court considers worth discussing or debating, then the responsibility will already shift back to the prosecution," he added.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said law enforcement will not act hastily, and citizens will continue enjoying their rights to demonstrate, as long as they abide by the law.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com