28 Jan 2023明報#5985
Primary election case defendant Michael Cheuk Kei Pang, Basic Law Student Research Centre president, cited Xi speech at talk
捲入欠債醜聞嘅元朗區前區議員張秀賢，再被發現加入前特首董建華特別顧問葉國華創辦嘅「基本法學生研究中心」，引起「變節」疑雲。民主派初選案被告之一、南區前區議員嘅彭卓棋同樣被發現擔任「基本法學生研究中心」會長，並曾出席活動，引用國家主席習近平嘅七一講話。
Former Yuen Long district councillor Tommy Sau Yin Cheung, who was embroiled in a debt scandal, was found to have joined the Basic Law Student Research Centre founded by Paul Kwok Wah Yip, a special adviser to former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, prompting suspicions of political defection. Michael Cheuk Kei Pang, one of the defendants in the pan-democrat primary election case and a former Southern District councillor, was likewise found to have served as president of the Basic Law Student Research Centre and to have attended its activities, where the person cited a July 1 speech by President Xi Jinping.
14 Jan 2023獨媒#5947
Zheng Yanxiong succeeds Luo Huining as Liaison Office director
國務院宣布，任命中央駐港國安公署署長鄭雁雄，接替駱惠寧出任中聯辦主任及國安委國家安全事務顧問。
The State Council announced the appointment of Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to succeed Luo Huining as director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
13 Jan 2023RTHK#5939
Xia Baolong says national security law takes precedence; SAR should amend inconsistent local laws
夏寶龍在全國港澳研究會舉辦的研討會上致辭時提到，要全面準確實施香港國安法，應堅持中央主導和特區主責相輔相成、缺一不可。全國人大常委會在制定香港國安法時，賦予了其凌駕地位和優先適用的法律效力。當特區本地法律規定與其不一致時，應當優先適用香港國安法，特區應主動修改、完善本地法律，使本地法律與香港國安法實現有機統一。
Speaking at a seminar organised by the National Hong Kong and Macao Studies Association, Xia Baolong said that to fully and accurately implement the Hong Kong National Security Law, it was necessary to uphold the complementary roles of central leadership and the SAR’s primary responsibility, with neither being dispensable. He said the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress had given the Hong Kong National Security Law overriding status and legal effect of priority application when enacting it. Where SAR local laws are inconsistent with it, the Hong Kong National Security Law should take precedence, and the SAR should proactively amend and improve its local laws to achieve an organic unity with the Hong Kong National Security Law.
11 Jan 2023獨媒#5934
National Security Committee Meets to Discuss NPC Interpretation, Does Not Immediately Bar Tim Owen from National Security Law Case
壹傳媒創辦人黎智英打算聘請英國御用大律師Tim Owen 辯護其《國安法》案件，行政長官李家超就海外大狀可否參與《國安法》案件提請人大釋法，惟人大最終未有定論，反將問題交予由李家超任主席的香港維護國家安全委員會（國安委）決定。國安委已於今日開會，表示會全力落實釋法內容中所說明的責任，未有即時禁止Tim Owen參與國安法案件，但指支持修訂《法律執業者條例》。
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai plans to hire British King’s Counsel Tim Owen to defend him in his National Security Law case. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu asked the National People’s Congress to interpret the law on whether overseas counsel may participate in National Security Law cases. The NPC ultimately reached no conclusion, instead referring the matter to the Hong Kong Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by Lee. The committee met today and said it would fully implement the responsibilities set out in the interpretation. It did not immediately bar Tim Owen from participating in National Security Law cases, but said it supported amending the Legal Practitioners Ordinance.
10 Jan 2023獨媒#5926
People Involved in Anti-Extradition Bill Movement Denied Home Return Permits; Gary Xinyu Zhang Calls It Unfair and Hopes for Mainland Departments’ Coordination
中港兩地日前恢復通關，立法會議員張欣宇今日舉行傳媒茶聚時表示，有涉及2019年反修例運動的人士，包括被落案起訴及被捕後「踢保」人士，均未能申請回鄉證。他認為做法不公平，已向保安局反映，希望內地部門批准簽發回鄉證，否則他們很難「move on」。
Following the resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the mainland a few days ago, Legislative Council member Gary Xinyu Zhang said at a media tea gathering today that people involved in the 2019 anti-extradition bill movement, including those who had been charged and those who were “kicked bail” after being arrested, had been unable to apply for Home Return Permits. He said the practice was unfair and had raised the matter with the Security Bureau, hoping mainland departments would approve the issuance of Home Return Permits; otherwise, it would be difficult for them to “move on”.
3 Jan 2023獨媒#5900
Tik Chi-yuen “Fails to Deliver” on Electoral Reform After 100 Days, Says Now Is Not the Right Time
「完善」選舉制度後的立法會議員已經上任一年，自稱「非建制」的新思維發表工作報告。有報章統計議員投票意向，反映議員「清一色」，新思維主席狄志遠指五光十色與否「見仁見智」，指立法會選舉投票率很低，以致聲音傾斜令政治光譜不夠多元。對於新思維曾稱上任一百日時向政府提出政改，但最終「走數」，狄志遠解釋有「朋友」勸他，現時市民對民主訴求較「淡化」，要待更好時機。
Legislative Council members elected after the “improvement” of the electoral system have been in office for a year. New Thinking, which describes itself as “non-establishment,” has released a work report. A newspaper’s tally of lawmakers’ voting preferences suggested that they were “all of one colour.” New Thinking chairman Tik Chi-yuen said whether the council was colourful was “a matter of opinion,” and said the low turnout in the Legislative Council election had resulted in a skewed range of voices and an insufficiently diverse political spectrum. New Thinking had previously said it would put forward electoral reform proposals to the government after 100 days in office, but ultimately “failed to deliver.” Tik explained that some “friends” had advised him that public demands for democracy were currently more “muted,” and that they should wait for a better time.
30 Dec 2022獨媒#5887
NPCSC interpretation says hiring overseas counsel requires Chief Executive certificate
黎智英打算聘請英國御用大律師辯護其《國安法》案件，政府透過司法途徑反對，不過即使上訴至終審法院亦告敗訴，特首遂尋求釋法。人大常委會傍晚通過第六次釋法，認為聘請海外律師參與國安案件的問題，應當取得行政長官發出的證明書。但若法院沒有提出，維護國家安全委員會可以作出判斷和規定。國安委由李家超及其主要官員組成，並由駱惠寧做顧問，而國安委的決定不受本港法院司法覆核。
Jimmy Lai planned to hire a British King’s Counsel to defend him in his National Security Law case. The government opposed the move through legal proceedings, but lost even after appealing to the Court of Final Appeal, prompting the Chief Executive to seek an interpretation of the law. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed its sixth interpretation in the evening, stating that overseas counsel participating in national security cases should obtain a certificate issued by the Chief Executive. However, if the court does not do so, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security can make a determination and impose requirements. The committee comprises John Lee and his principal officials, with Luo Huining as an adviser, and its decisions are not subject to judicial review by Hong Kong courts.
27 Dec 2022獨媒#5879
Chief Executive’s Policy Unit to be Established Tomorrow; Huang Yuan-shan Resigns as LegCo Member to Head Unit
特首李家超上任後提出的「特首政策組」，將於明日正式成立。立法會選委界議員黃元山獲委任為組長，李家超指黃有國家大局思維，又關注國際形勢，深信他能協助特區政府施政。黃元山則表示榮幸，並已辭任立法會議員及在團結香港基金的工作。
The Chief Executive’s Policy Unit proposed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu after taking office will be formally established tomorrow. Huang Yuan-shan, a Legislative Council member representing the Election Committee constituency, has been appointed head of the unit. Lee said Huang had a perspective focused on the overall national interest and also followed international developments, and he was confident Huang could assist the HKSAR Government in its governance. Huang said he was honoured and had resigned as a Legislative Council member and from his work at Our Hong Kong Foundation.
17 Dec 2022獨媒#5849
Civic Party may wind up within a year after failing to form executive committee
公民黨今日召開周年大會，黨主席梁家傑指無人參選執委，即處於「斷莊」，現有執委會將過渡成臨時執委會，相信很有可能一年內逐步進行清盤。多名公民黨元老出席大會，前立法會議員吳靄儀提到，公民黨已完成許多應做的事，「無論今日發生咩事，都唔可以將嗰啲事抹殺」，又認爲不能夠太貪心，「做到幾多得幾多。」
The Civic Party held its annual general meeting today. Party chairman Alan Leong said that, with no one standing for election to the executive committee, the party was in a situation where no executive slate had been formed. The existing executive committee will transition into an interim executive committee, and he believed the party was highly likely to begin winding up gradually within a year. Several veteran Civic Party members attended the meeting. Former Legislative Council member Margaret Ng said the party had accomplished many of the things it needed to do and that, “whatever happens today, those things cannot be erased.” She also said the party could not be too ambitious and should “do as much as we can.”
6 Dec 2022獨媒#5803
Chris Tang says Chinese missions will not assist Hong Kong people holding BNO passports arrested overseas
港府不承認 BNO 護照為有效的旅遊證件和身份證明，保安局局長鄧炳強在立法會一個委員會表示，持 BNO 港人若在外地發生事故例如被捕，中國駐外使領館將不會提供協助，「佢可能就要搵返自己國家喇。」而持香港身份證的外傭，雖然是非本地永久居民，但若在外地遇事，港府會本著「幫得就幫」的精神去協助，例如2020年初爆疫的「鑽石公主號」上的外傭。
The Hong Kong Government does not recognise the BNO passport as a valid travel document or proof of identity. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said at a Legislative Council committee meeting that if Hong Kong people holding BNO passports encountered an incident overseas, such as being arrested, Chinese diplomatic and consular missions abroad would not provide assistance. “They may have to seek help from their own country.” By contrast, foreign domestic helpers holding Hong Kong identity cards, although they are non-local permanent residents, would receive assistance from the Hong Kong Government if they encountered difficulties overseas, in line with the principle of helping where possible, such as the foreign domestic helpers aboard the Diamond Princess when an outbreak occurred in early 2020.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
