Hong Kong’s legal system has demonstrated “strong resilience” to external threats and slanders, a senior Beijing official has said, calling on the city to strengthen its competitiveness and contribute more to global governance.
Cui Jianchun, head of Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong, also said on Tuesday the rule of law was the city’s greatest strength which played a vital role in bridging mainland China and the world amid economic globalisation.
“China’s constitution and the Hong Kong Basic Law have formed the foundation of Hong Kong’s common law system,” Cui told a legal forum on interconnectivity and development.
“Despite external, not only threat, sometimes coercion, and sometimes, I hate to use words [such as] libel or slander, whatever, to Hong Kong’s independent judiciary and judges, Hong Kong’s legal system has demonstrated strong resilience.”
The official also said the international community felt confident enough to make “predictable” investment in the “stable” city because of its rule of law and independent judiciary.
Cui called on Hong Kong to capitalise on its rule of law to achieve new development, saying China was “counting on” the city’s legal system and that it was essential for the nation’s modernisation.
