Security law 'sometimes necessary'

Bar Association chairman Paul Harris says he has applied to withdraw from the Liberal Democrats party in Britain and emphasizes that he is not an "anti-China politician."

The 68-year-old human rights lawyer, who became Bar head in January, also said a national security law was "legitimate and sometimes necessary" in an interview with Sing Tao Daily, sister publication of The Standard.

"I am not a politician, also not anti-China," Harris said, adding he has no political affiliation with Britain as he has applied to withdraw from the Liberal Democrats after taking the helm of the Bar Association.

Harris said he was not involved in diplomatic matters while he was a member of the party and only dealt with the restoration of Oxford Canal when he was an Oxford City councillor, from which he stepped down in January, before he was elected Bar chairman.

His interview came after Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong slammed Harris as an "anti-China politician" and questioned his political affiliation with foreign countries.

A spokesman of the office also said Harris was challenging the authority of the National People's Congress Standing Committee by saying the national security law imposed on Hong Kong on June 30 last year needs to be amended.

It would be "the greatest irony" for the Bar to allow Harris to continue as its chairman, the spokesman said.

In the interview, Harris clarified his view on the national security law, which criminalizes four types of acts endangering national security, including secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign or external forces.

"I have always accepted that it is legitimate for Hong Kong to have a national security law because most countries have them. They are sometimes necessary," he said.

"Some people might say how would I dare criticize something laid down by the NPC Standing Committee. The answer to that is it has always been part of the Bar Association's role to comment on legislation," he said.

He added that he is still concerned about some articles in the national security law, such as Article 60, which states that Beijing's Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong and its staff shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of HKSAR and that they shall enjoy other rights and immunities provided by HKSAR laws. He believes that the Bar will submit a proposal to the government.

Harris said he has been "fighting very hard" to retain overseas judges in the city after calls for British judges to quit the Hong Kong system. His efforts include writing a letter to the English Bar Council last week telling them the legal system in Hong Kong is "working well."

He said it is unlikely he will resign as Bar chairman in the near future, adding: "If I resign, I think it would be very damaging to the situation with the overseas judges."