This undated photo shows Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah at her office in the Department of Justice in Central, Hong Kong. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said that legal professionals in the city should use their expertise to uphold the rule of law and strive to maintain their professionalism.
In a blog post published Monday, Cheng said she agreed with the view that legal bodies are neither political parties nor political organizations, and should therefore strive to maintain their professionalism rather than politicization.
Our legal professionals should use their expertise to uphold the rule of law and promote legal services, enabling members of the legal sector to capitalize on their legal talent, Cheng said.
So long as we all genuinely adhere to the principle of ‘one country’, respect and fully implement ‘one country, two systems’, and stay true to the original aspiration of the Basic Law … I have full confidence that the common law will continue to apply in Hong Kong.
Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Hong Kong's secretary for justice
Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong’s capitalist system is supported not only by the common law system, but also a stable environment for investors, Cheng said.
“So long as we all genuinely adhere to the principle of ‘one country’, respect and fully implement ‘one country, two systems’, and stay true to the original aspiration of the Basic Law – safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, maintaining Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, I have full confidence that the common law will continue to apply in Hong Kong,” Cheng said.
Hong Kong’s economy, irrespective of outbound investment by Chinese mainland enterprises or overseas investment into the mainland through Hong Kong, is closely linked with the motherland, Cheng said. The capitalist system under “one country, two systems” is supported by the common law with our legal sector playing an important role in upholding the rule of law and maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, she added.
ALSO READ: HK justice chief backs anti-sanction law
It is necessary for legal bodies to communicate with the mainland authorities on behalf of Hong Kong’s legal sector in a bid to promote our legal services and explore new markets, Cheng said.
Citing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as one of nation's key development strategies, Cheng said that Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution sector should leverage the unique advantages under “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions” in the Greater Bay Area and integrate into the nation's overall development.
The Department of Justice has rolled out a number of measures with the mainland to explore markets for the legal sector in the GBA, according to Cheng. The introduction and continuous implementation of these measures are attributed to the upholding of the “one country, two systems” principle and strong support for Hong Kong by the central government, she said.
READ MORE: Justice chief: HK reverted to a safe, inclusive society
Cheng said that during her visit to Beijing last month, she called on on a number of mainland ministries, during which the officials expressed their "clear support" for the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.
Four arrangements were signed during her visit, fostering the legal exchanges between the the mainland and Hong Kong and further promoting our legal, dispute resolution and deal-making services, Cheng said.