Chief Justice and President of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) Zhang Jun met with a delegation headed by Paul Lam Ting-kwok, secretary for justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing on April 20.
Chief Justice and President of the Supreme People’s Court Zhang Jun meets with a delegation headed by Paul Lam Ting-kwok, secretary for justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on April 20. [Photo/court.gov.cn]
Zhang welcomed Lam and noted that the practice of “one country, two systems” has entered a new stage. The HKSAR government has steadfastly safeguarded national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensured Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity with high-level security, fully demonstrating the strong vitality and institutional strengths of the “one country, two systems” principle, Zhang said.
As a key department of the HKSAR government, the Department of Justice has fully and accurately implemented the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Hong Kong National Security Law, firmly upheld the constitutional order of the HKSAR and made important contributions to Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, Zhang noted.
Zhang gave a briefing on the efforts made by courts on the Chinese mainland to support high-quality economic and social development through high-quality judicial services.
He also highlighted progress in judicial exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, the alignment of rules and mechanisms within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the cultivation of foreign-related legal talent.
Zhang noted that this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period and that the outline of the plan makes important arrangements on promoting the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, creating significant opportunities for Hong Kong’s high-quality development.
He expressed the hope that Hong Kong’s justice department would continue to uphold the rule of law, support the chief executive in governing in accordance with the law, and firmly shoulder its constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding national security, so as to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to serve national needs, and better integrate into and contribute to the overall development of the country.
Lam thanked Zhang for the meeting. He said his department would continue to fully and faithfully implement the principle of “one country, two systems”, accurately enforce the Hong Kong National Security Law, and uphold and promote the rule of law in Hong Kong to safeguard its high-quality development.
He expressed the hope of deepening exchanges and cooperation with courts at all levels on the Chinese mainland, jointly strengthening the training of foreign-related legal professionals, and working together to advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, contributing to national development and rejuvenation while opening new chapters in Hong Kong’s development.
Mao Zhonghua, vice-president of the SPC, and relevant officials from the SPC and the HKSAR’s Department of Justice also attended the meeting.
