Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today told his colleagues that President Xi Jinping’s remarks that the Judiciary shall exercise independent judicial power are crucial to the maintenance of the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Mr Lam made the remarks when addressing the two Spirit of the President’s Important Speech sessions held by the Department of Justice.

The justice chief spelt out his working targets to around 100 attending directorate officials, including promoting the proper concept of the rule of law and the actual situation in Hong Kong as well as establishing the city as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Lam added that President Xi’s important speech not only provided crucial guidance on governance by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the coming five years, but also set out a high-level policy direction to achieve those two targets.

He further pointed out that the legal sector has been greatly encouraged by the President’s explicit acknowledgement in maintaining Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the common law system, and his remarks on the central government’s support in Hong Kong’s effort to maintain its distinctive status and edge, keeping the business environment free, open and regulated.

Noting President Xi’s remarks that the Judiciary shall exercise independent judicial power, which is a core component in the common law system, Mr Lam explained that the remarks were crucial to the maintenance of the rule of law in Hong Kong.

The justice chief encouraged colleagues to grasp the core essence of President Xi’s important speech and build it into their own work.

He also prompted them to continue to proactively leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” to seize the opportunities brought about by the national development.

The President delivered an important speech at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

He raised "four musts" for the new administration: we must fully and faithfully implement the principle of "one country, two systems"; we must uphold the central government's overall jurisdiction while securing the Hong Kong SAR's high degree of autonomy; we must ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots; and we must maintain Hong Kong's distinctive status and advantages.

The President also laid down four proposals for the newly inaugurated Government, ie further improving its governance, continuing to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressing people's concerns and difficulties in daily life, and working together to safeguard harmony and stability.