The fundamental concepts which are crucial in ensuring the proper administration of criminal justice are deeply entrenched in the legal system of Hong Kong, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen says.
Speaking at the Prosecution Week 2016 opening ceremony today, Mr Yuen said law and order cannot be maintained if there is not an appropriate criminal justice regime and the effective operation of it.
"Not only does the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region continue the common law tradition and thereby preserve the relevant common law safeguards, it contains express stipulations which provide the constitutional guarantee for the proper administration of criminal justice," he said.
At the same occasion, Director of Public Prosecutions Keith Yeung said he has seen situations where prosecutors were subjected to verbal abuse.
Echoing Mr Yeung's observation, Mr Yuen said public prosecutors and judges have a duty to discharge. Even if one does not agree to the stance of the prosecutors or the rulings or decisions made by judges, one should express their views in the proper manner instead of resorting to abuse and personal attacks, he said.
Such conduct is the antithesis of the rule of law and should never be encouraged, he added.
