A Legal Analysis of Hong Kong’s New Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and What it Means for Lawyers

In cooperation with the Asian Lawyers Network and the 29 Principles, Lawyers for Lawyers has co-signed a joint report titled “A Legal Analysis of Hong Kong’s New Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and What it Means for Lawyers”.

On March 19, 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which was signed into law by the Chief Executive on March 23. This law significantly broadens the scope of national security legislation in Hong Kong, introducing new offences and harsher penalties that pose serious threats to the legal profession and the rule of law.

The report lists 11 categories of threats against lawyers under the law, and it recommends that Hong Kong authorities repeal the law, as well as relevant authorities repealing other laws restricting civil and political rights in Hong Kong.

The authors of the report urge the international community to continue pressuring Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to protect lawyers by highlighting their vulnerability and applying sanctions and other appropriate measures. They call on China and Hong Kong to repeal the NSL, SNSO, and other abusive national security laws, release those arbitrarily arrested under these laws, and end the harassment of lawyers.

Read the full report here.