Symposium: Law, economy and society in NSL-era Hong Kong: A reflection of the 40th anniversary of the Sino-British joint declaration

December 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. In accordance with this international agreement, the UK transferred Hong Kong’s sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1997, which undertook to govern Hong Kong under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.  

But tension inherent in the implementation of this arrangement eventually led to widespread protests in 2019. The PRC Government responded by enacting the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) in 2020. 

More than 4-years since its imposition, the HKNSL has altered many aspects of political and civic life in Hong Kong. This new legal regime has been reinforced by the passing of the “Safeguarding National Security Ordinance” under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law in 2024. These two pieces of legislation have not only put in place a draconian national security apparatus in Hong Kong but also signalled to its diaspora that they are not beyond the reach of the Hong Kong authority. This has not stopped concerned members of the international community and the Hong Kong diaspora from monitoring developments in Hong Kong, including alleged human rights violations. 

While the political impacts of the new national security regime are important, its implications on social, cultural and personal life in Hong Kong are equally significant. Hong Kong has suffered a prolonged economic downturn after the imposition of the HKNSL, which happened in the midst of the global pandemic. With an atmosphere of censorship, surveillance and pessimism emerging, social and cultural lives in Hong Kong seem to have lost vibrance and zest. Migration from Hong Kong to democratic countries has increased substantially. 

This symposium examines how the creation of the new legal regime centred around the HKNSL has reshaped Hong Kong’s judicial institutions, economic governance and social development. We seek to discuss and debate the following questions: How has the HKNSL impacted upon Hong Kong’s common law system and the independence of its judiciary? What impact will the NSL have on Hong Kong’s reputation as a global business hub? How can academics, policymakers, and members of the Hong Kong diaspora constructively engage with developments in Hong Kong with a view to ensure the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 are not eroded completely?