The legal profession should take on an educating role to correct misunderstandings towards the governance systems reflected in public commentaries, said Law Society of Hong Kong president Roden Tong Man-lung at the ceremonial opening of Legal Year 2025.
He said that while some comments arise from a genuine interest in the current situation in Hong Kong, it is “regrettable that many remarks can be oversimplified and rooted in misconceptions.”
Tong said that these misconceptions are often shaped by incomplete and biased media coverage. “Under the Basic Law, the functions and powers of the executive authorities of the HKSAR are expressly provided in Article 62.
Further, Article 64 of the Basic Law stipulates that the executive authorities must abide by the law and be accountable to the Legislative Council,” he said.
Tong added that when the executive authorities are alleged to have acted beyond their legal power, there are established legal procedures that aggrieved parties can pursue to seek remedies in accordance with the law.
“Comments made with the intent to pressure judges to deliver a specific outcome blatantly distort the course of justice and are a direct affront to the rule of law,” he said.
Also, he called on Hong Kong lawyers to serve as “super connectors” between their mainland and international clients, aiming to “create impactful synergy between the Two Systems for the benefit of One Country.”
(Eunice Lam)
