Prosecutions 'independent and impartial'

Director of Public Prosecutions Maggie Yang Mei-kei has reiterated that Hong Kong's prosecutorial system is independent and impartial.

In the Department of Justice's annual report released yesterday, Yang said all prosecutorial decisions are based solely on the law and evidence, without any undue influence from irrelevant factors such as politics, individual interests or personal beliefs.

Yang described the past year as a "milestone" for the prosecutions division, highlighting several key developments.

This includes the establishment in July of a dedicated technology crime subdivision, which will work closely with cyber and forensic experts to address a growing threat.

The unit has also reached out to the international community, participating in conferences and meetings to combat transnational crimes.

"We live in a society characterized by incessant technological advancements, where modern tech is increasingly being exploited by criminals as an instrument and medium of crime," Yang said.

"The subdivision, being the locus of knowledge and expertise relating to technology crimes, will be instrumental in our ongoing efforts to bring offenders of technology crimes to justice."

Hong Kong will host the 11th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors in November.

This event will provide a platform for discussions on the role of prosecution services and the use of technology in the justice system.

Yang said the division was committed to delivering justice in a fair, impartial and even-handed manner, with public interest as the overriding priority.

"To ensure the proper discharge of our duty to the community, article 63 of the Basic Law provides that the Department of Justice shall control criminal prosecutions free from any interference."

The report said the department handled more cases last year.

"Compared to 2022, the number of cases conducted by in-house prosecutors increased by 19.1 percent while the number of cases conducted by fiat counsel decreased by 14.8 percent," it said.

The division also provided 15,486 legal advisories on criminal matters to government bureaux and law enforcers - 6 percent more.