Opinion | US hegemonism in the pretext of rule of law

By Edward Hei Leung, LegCo Member

Recently, US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) has released a staff research report, suggesting additional sanctions on the new Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and 15 public prosecutors. It is the first time US official body targets our middle-to-high-ranking prosecutors, manifesting its blatant interference into others' affairs and violation of international laws.

CECC report criticizes our Justice Department for expanding arbitrary detention on the so-called political prisoners. It airs worries over the new justice secretary, who would follow the same prosecutorial approach of Teresa Cheng.

In fact, US itself should answer what the definition of political prisoners is. Let us say, can Julian Assange, the Australian citizen disclosing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, fulfill the criteria? Is the rule also applicable to Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who uncovers US illegal surveillance program? Why does US persecute them in the name of national security?

Remember that US intentionally built detention camp outside its territory to ensure the feudal laws and international treaties inapplicable. The infamous Guantanamo prison represents twenty years of arbitrary detection without trail. In other words, is it ironic that US tramples on the rule of law while teaching others of the importance of legal justice?

Back to Hong Kong, according to the Rule of Law Index 2021, our city was ranked 19th, higher than US position. Even in terms of civil and criminal justice, Hong Kong also surpassed US significantly. On contrary to CECC analysis, our legal system is internationally recognized. It drives us to the reasons why CECC make incorrect allegations.

Though independent as it sounds like, CECC was established to monitor the development of human rights and rule of law in China. It is not difficult to apprehend that CECC report is tailor-made for US political intervention.

CECC paper, on one hand, intimidates our frontline prosecutors to give up their principles of justice. On the other hand, the assumption of political prisoners favors US subsequent manipulations, even though that will put our judicial system in peril. As an old saying goes, everyone is equal in front of the law. If people can use violence to achieve their political demands without repercussions afterwards, what will happen to our judiciary?

The US-led western alliance accuses our administration of detaining prisoners for political reasons. However, it forgets the truth that similar criminal behaviors are not allowed in many cities. Some prisoners built homemade weapons, hurled petrol bombs, committed arsons, while others colluded with foreign powers to conduct subversive activities. Are these wrongdoings acceptable in US? Why does it go opposite in Hong Kong?

Obviously, US shows interests in the room of political manipulation rather than our legal development. So long as Sino-US tension increases, it is unlikely to see an improved political climate between Hong Kong and western countries. What matters most is how to support our colleagues amid waves of foreign interventions. It is encouraging to hear Paul Lam's message that SAR government has ways to protect the officials.

After the city celebrates the 25th anniversary of the return to China, we have to open a new leaf in our governance. US intervention cannot obstruct our road to a greater integration into national development, not to mention our determination to maintain "One Country, Two Systems".

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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