Opinion | Hong Kong shows how to balance national security and human rights
Five years on from introduction of security law, the city is showing how the two issues, rather than being in conflict, are interconnected and reinforce each other
From the perspective of someone who has followed Hong Kong’s legal and constitutional evolution over several decades, this development is neither abrupt nor unprecedented. Rather, it reflects a maturing legal response to the challenges that also confront many other jurisdictions, particularly those rooted in the common law tradition.
It reinforces Hong Kong’s status as an inseparable part of China while emphasising the importance of upholding national security within a rule-of-law framework and embedding respect for human rights throughout its legal provisions.
National security is a fundamental priority of modern sovereign states, underpinning citizens’ ability to enjoy basic human rights. Article 2 of the law clarifies that the Basic Law’s Articles 1 and 12 constitute core provisions, stipulating that residents’ exercise of rights and freedoms must align with these provisions, thereby establishing the foundation for balancing national security and human rights.