Article 23 laws won't 'mainlandise' HK: Paul Lam
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said on Thursday that he disagreed with claims that Hong Kong will be "mainlandised" with the implementation of national security laws under Basic Law Article 23.  A month-long public consultation exercise on the legislation is underway.  In an interview, Lam explained that Hong Kong operates under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and makes its own laws under the common law system.  Hong Kong's courts are independent and have the right of final adjudication, he added.  Asked whether foreign media would violate the offences of theft of state secrets and foreign interference, Lam said a proposed offence on collusion with external forces targets those who publish false or misleading statements with intent to endanger national security, and that he was confident "ordinary" journalists would not commit such crime. Meanwhile, Lam said the planned offence of prohibiting acts with seditious intent targets extremist acts such as advocating "Hong Kong independence" and disrupting Hong Kong's constitutional order.  He said mainland tourists expressing dissatisfaction with Hong Kong on social media would not be considered to have broken the law.