Legal experts and government officials on Monday underscored the role of Hong Kong's national security laws in safeguarding the city's stability and prosperity, stressing the importance of judicial independence and striking a balance between freedom and security.

The academic symposium on "one country, two systems," organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, brought together nearly 100 legal professionals from 11 countries and regions, including Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Malaysia. They reviewed the five-year implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong and discussed its future development.

Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stated in his address that the NSL's implementation on June 30, 2020, marked a significant milestone for "one country, two systems." He described it as a "golden shield "that has helped Hong Kong maintain security and social stability, a view he said was recognized both locally and internationally.

Gao asserted that the NSL fundamentally addressed long-standing loopholes in Hong Kong's legal system concerning national security. He highlighted that global investors have benefited from Hong Kong's renewed prosperity and stability. Last year, the number of overseas companies operating in Hong Kong reached a record 9,960. This included 117 newly established US companies, bringing the total number of US businesses in Hong Kong to 1,390.

Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Hong Kong's former secretary for justice, said that the "one country, two systems" principle must evolve to meet contemporary needs. She cited the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted on March 23, 2024, as examples of this adaptation to address emerging risks.

Leung also addressed recent efforts by external forces to discredit Hong Kong's judicial system through the resignations of non-local judges, stressing that the departure and arrival of overseas judges is normal. She underscored the importance of cultivating local judicial talent to reduce reliance on external resources in the future.

Han Dayuan, a member of the Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a professor at Renmin University of China, emphasized the dynamic balance required between freedom and security in judicial practice.

Han stated that a core achievement of the NSL's five-year implementation is its innovative interpretation approach, which bridges the gap between civil law system in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong's common law traditions. He noted that this approach has successfully balanced the legal principles of both sides on a case-by-case basis.

Grenville Cross, former director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong SAR, affirmed the NSL's successful integration into the city's legal system, attributing it to driving progress and prosperity. He stated that the NSL reversed attempts by anti-China forces in 2019 and 2020 to undermine "one country, two systems," with prosecutions initiated only when absolutely necessary.

Cross also stressed the need for refinement of the city's national security laws, citing the subsidiary legislation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted last month, as a good example of such improvements.

stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com