At the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Ryan Mak, a Hong Kong-born PhD student in Public International Law, delivered a speech defending the city's legal system and judicial integrity.
Mak emphasized that the rule of law remains robust in Hong Kong, referencing the latest World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, where Hong Kong ranks higher than many Western nations, including the United States. He cited Article 19 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, which guarantees judicial independence, and noted that judges and lawyers in Hong Kong are respected, with their professional rights and dignity protected by law.
He strongly criticized U.S. politicians for imposing sanctions on Hong Kong's senior judges, drawing a parallel with similar actions taken against International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. He warned that such sanctions create a chilling effect and could undermine judicial independence more than any internal pressure.
Reflecting on the five years since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), Mak argued that stability has been restored. He pointed out that Hong Kong was recently ranked the third most competitive economy in the world, and shared his personal sense of security, stating that he can now walk safely on the streets at 3 a.m.—something he says he cannot do in cities like London or New York.
Mak reaffirmed the effectiveness of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, stating that Hongkongers can elect their representatives and maintain a unique identity within the Chinese nation. He asserted that the era of colonialism is over, and that Chinese people are now authors of their own destiny.
He ended his speech with an invitation: "If anyone truly believes human rights are not protected in Hong Kong, come and see with your own eyes, instead of relying on biased reports from Western media."
"Please reserve lectures on human rights for law students," he concluded, "not for my city."
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