'No fear over US brandishing the stick of sanctions'
A senior Beijing official on Friday slammed attempts by the United States to intimidate judges in Hong Kong with the threat of sanctions, describing such acts as "ridiculous, shameless and ill-disposed". Liu Guangyuan, a deputy director of the liaison office, also said the implementation of the national security law has made the rule of law more solid and the city's business environment more favourable – something that he said could clearly be seen by anyone "without bias".  In a speech on the last day of this year's Legal Week, he pointed to a small number of people meddling in Hong Kong affairs and relentlessly "slandering" the rule of law.  "Some US politicians repeatedly brandish the stick of the so-called sanctions, intimidating the prosecutors and judges in Hong Kong. Such a despicable move is brazenly violating the principle of international law and the spirit of the rule of law. It's nothing short of a ridiculous, shameless and ill-disposed act," Liu said.  "Facts have proved time and again that intimidation cannot suppress the rule of law in Hong Kong. Any attempts to disrupt the rule of law in Hong Kong and undermine the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle are doomed to fail." At the same event, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam stressed that enacting national security legislation is both a constitutional duty and a practical necessity.  He also said the security law is protective not invasive, and defensive not offensive by nature, likening the legislation to a vaccine. "Injection of vaccine may be seen as an encroachment on the human right of bodily integrity, but the purpose of vaccination is not to cause any pain or suffering. Quite the contrary, it's to safeguard our health and life from potential harms caused by different types of virus," he said.  "Acts endangering national security are similar to viruses, and the national security law is the vaccination." Lam said while Hong Kong is a place full of opportunities, people's dreams will only be "eternal fantasy" if there isn't a safe and secure environment.  Chief Executive John Lee, for his part, said Hong Kong – as the country's only common law jurisdiction – will continue to leverage its unique strengths and serve as the "central conduit" between the mainland and the rest of the world.  "Firmly enshrined under the Basic Law, Hong Kong's rule of law protects both businesses and the community, ensuring Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability," Lee said.