Lam Ting-kwok Says National Security Cases Can Be Tried on Mainland if External Forces Leave Country in Dire Straits
林定國指若國家受外來勢力影響處「水深火熱」 國安案可交內地審
A bill proposed by US congressmen to sanction 49 Hong Kong judges and Department of Justice officials has prompted the patriotic camp to adopt a retaliatory stance, with repeated claims in recent days that Jimmy Lai’s national security case could be transferred to the mainland for trial under Article 55 of the National Security Law. Speaking after attending a Legal Week event this morning, Secretary for Justice Lam Ting-kwok, when asked about the matter, stressed that there should be no speculation and said he had 100 per cent confidence in Hong Kong’s courts. Lam explained that Article 55 would be invoked only in “very exceptionally serious” circumstances—for example, if external forces influenced the country and left it in a situation of “extreme peril”. The Hong Kong government or the Committee for Safeguarding National Security would then make a proposal, subject to approval by the central government.
美國國會議員提出法案制裁49名香港法官及律政司人員，觸發愛國陣營擺出「反制」姿態，連日聲言黎智英國安案可以按《港區國安法》55條啟動移交內地審理。律政司司長林定國今早出席法律周活動後被問及事件，他強調不應揣測，亦對香港法庭百分百有信心。林定國解釋，55條是「好特別嚴重」的例外情況才會啟動，例如受外來勢力影響，令國家處於「非常水深火熱」的情況，才由港府或國安委提出，再由中央批准。