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Hong Kong Basic Law

The Basic Law was drafted as part of the Sino-British Joint Declaration covering Hong Kong after its handover to China on July 1, 1997. The declaration stated Hong Kong would be governed under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and continue to enjoy its capitalist system and individual freedoms for 50 years after the handover.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

The wanted list now has 19 opposition figures. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong's national security law

Hong Kong police place HK$1 million bounties on 6 more activists

Nineteen opposition figures currently on list of people wanted for allegedly violating Beijing-imposed national security law.

24 Dec 2024 - 5:11PM

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Hong Kong barristers’ exchanges with Beijing are vital

24 Dec 2024 - 8:15AM

From our archives

On This Day | ‘A new era’: Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984 – SCMP archive

19 Dec 2024 - 9:15AM

Hong Kong

Editorial | Common law use no barrier to providing services over Hong Kong’s border

Hong Kong lawyers on ‘matchmaking’ trip to Guangzhou and Shenzhen forge ties and open way to further cooperation.

18 Dec 2024 - 6:45AM

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, SC, leads a delegation of over 30 representatives of foreign-related legal talent from the city to the mainland on December 6. Photo: Handout from ISD

John Lee

Editorial | Xi puts faith in Lee to deliver on Hong Kong economic development, reform

Hong Kong chief executive on duty visit to Beijing receives praise as well as being instructed to focus on national goals and advantages under ‘one country, two systems’.

14 Dec 2024 - 6:30AM

Hong Kong politics

Xi Jinping pledges full support for Hong Kong’s John Lee to reform economy

Lee later says he briefed the president on the city’s budget deficit, pledging to spend three to five years to balance the books with ‘a series of strategies’.

13 Dec 2024 - 11:24PM

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong’s civil servants shouldn’t be target of misplaced frustrations

Readers discuss a suggestion to cut or freeze civil servants’ pay, a challenge in telling good Hong Kong stories, our addiction to smartphones, and holding Israel to account for the Gaza war.

11 Dec 2024 - 11:30AM

The end of the work day at Hong Kong’s government offices in Admiralty on June 4. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | In reshuffling cabinet, Hong Kong’s leader was simply doing his duty

The sacking of the city’s tourism and transport ministers may have come as a surprise, but the chief executive was merely doing his job.

11 Dec 2024 - 11:29AMvideocam

Jimmy Lai trial

Jimmy Lai says he didn’t think at first national security law would be ‘end’ of Hong Kong

Ex-media boss also denies saying that he believed his arrest would trigger foreign intervention.

5 Dec 2024 - 11:17PM

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong must cement its national security foundations to prosper

The truth is simple and profound: the stability or disarray, prosperity or poverty of every nation and region are intricately tied to the state of its security.

3 Dec 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

A woman visits the National Security Exhibition Gallery at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui, on August 26. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong politics

Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong slams US travel advisory ‘slander’

Washington ‘playing despicable tricks by distorting facts’ in advisory hitting out at national security law, office says.

29 Nov 2024 - 12:43AM

In the advisory, Washington also cited the enactment of the Beijing-decreed national security law in 2020 and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance introduced in March. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong politics

Beijing official’s speech signals Hong Kong has never been ‘independent’: experts

Beijing official Zhang Yong recently said ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ guiding principle implies oversight by central authorities.

26 Nov 2024 - 8:30AM

Hong Kong politics

How did judges decide prison sentences handed down in Hong Kong 47 trial?

Sentences ranging from four years and two months to 10 years for conspiracy to commit subversion were proportionate with severity of crime, experts say.

21 Nov 2024 - 8:30AMvideocam

Jimmy Lai trial

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai admits donating to groups but denies having agenda

Former media boss goes into witness box for the first time and gives 6½ hours of testimony in his high-profile national security trial.

29 Nov 2024 - 1:04AMvideocam

Jimmy Lai testified for more than six hours on his first day in the witness box. Photo: AP

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong slams US over fresh sanctions vow after activists jailed

US ‘taking steps’ to impose visa restrictions on ‘multiple Hong Kong officials’ after 45 activists jailed in landmark national security trial.

10 Dec 2024 - 6:55PMvideocam

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The jailed opposition activists and politicians are taken back to prison after sentencing on Monday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong courts

45 Hong Kong activists jailed for 4 to 10 years over plot to topple government

Former legal scholar and ‘mastermind’ Benny Tai receives 10-year prison term.

20 Nov 2024 - 12:18AMvideocam

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong 47: when will jailed activists in security trial be released?

Claudia Mo among four set to be released in six months, after spending nearly four years in custody, but others still face years behind bars.

19 Nov 2024 - 11:31PMvideocam

Hong Kong politics

Don’t threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law if you want close ties: Paul Lam

Justice minister weighs in on ‘absurd’ requests from Hong Kong-based US representatives and Donald Trump’s vow over jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai.

10 Nov 2024 - 4:06PMvideocam

Donald Trump pledged last month he would “100 per cent” get former media tycoon Jimmy Lai out of China. Photo: AP

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong ramps up efforts to boost status as legal hub with launch of academy

City’s new academy will work with global organisations, strengthening exchanges in regions under the Belt and Road Initiative, John Lee says.

8 Nov 2024 - 9:49PM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s legal system shows ‘strong resilience’ to threats: Beijing official

Cui Jianchun also stresses city must remain competitive in legal field and build itself into a preferred destination for global dispute resolution.

5 Nov 2024 - 4:35PM

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | 3 ways Hong Kong can boost economic growth and development

The city should take advantage of ‘one country, two systems’ to boost economic growth through internationalisation, integration and innovation.

4 Nov 2024 - 9:27AMvideocam

Hong Kong youth

Opinion | Keeping people on police bail for 5 years is an abuse of power

There is no justification for curbing the freedoms of thousands of young people who have not been found guilty of any offence following the 2019 unrest.

3 Nov 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Police officers stand guard outside the West Kowloon magistrates’ courts during a hearing of a national security case on May 30. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong politics

No penalties in national security law guidelines for Hong Kong civil servants

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says the point of the guidelines is to aid colleagues in executing their jobs.

28 Oct 2024 - 9:05PM

Hong Kong politics

Teaching Hong Kong’s rule of law and fostering patriotism are ‘inseparable’: minister

Understanding the Basic Law and China’s constitution provides historical context of city’s transition from British to Chinese rule, Paul Lam says.

26 Oct 2024 - 10:56PM

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong inmate denied early release under security law ‘treated unfairly’

Adam Ma’s lawyers argue in court that Correctional Services Department failed to provide timely reasons in support of decision.

22 Oct 2024 - 9:03PM

Adam Ma is serving a five-year jail term. Photo: Brian Wong

Hong Kong

Editorial | Opportunity docks for Hong Kong in provision of maritime services

The city cannot hope to compete with China ports on cargo handling, but it leads in terms of legal, logistical and professional know-how.

11 Oct 2024 - 6:15AM

Cargo ships are loaded and unloaded in Hong Kong in July 2004. Today, the city’s maritime services and shipping sectors face transformative challenges. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong politics

West must stop putting ‘inappropriate pressure’ on Hong Kong’s foreign judges

Deputy justice secretary issues call after Nicholas Addison Phillips becomes fifth foreign justice to leave city’s top court this year.

5 Oct 2024 - 8:13PM

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Spare no effort in strengthening Hong Kong’s pool of foreign judges

Despite recent departures, the city government has rightly expressed its determination to stand by a key feature of city’s common law system.

5 Oct 2024 - 6:15AM

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