FEATURED COVERAGE
Explainer: NPCSC’s Interpretation of Hong Kong National Security Law over Jimmy Lai’s Foreign Defense Counsel
China’s national legislature left it to the Hong Kong government to decide whether defendants may retain foreign counsel in national security cases
Legislation Summary: Hong Kong National Security Law
New China-imposed law criminalizes a large swath of speech previously protected in Hong Kong and displaces core procedural protections for the accused available under Hong Kong law.
Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
中华人民共和国香港特别行政区维护国家安全法
[Current Text: Chinese, English]
(adopted and effective June 30, 2020)
- Status: Interpretation passed
- Interpretive Body (Vote): NPCSC (N/A)
- Requester: State Council (on behalf of the HKSAR Chief Executive)
- Drafter: State Council
- Provisions Interpreted: Articles 14 & 47
- Legislative History & Text
- NPCSC deliberation – only round: Dec. 27 – 30, 2022 (Chinese | English › HKSAR Gov’t; CLT)
- Legislative Records
- State Council’s Explanation (Dec. 27, 2022)
- NPC Constitution and Law Committee’s Deliberation Opinion (Dec. 27, 2022)
- NPC Constitution and Law Committee’s Report on Results of Deliberation (Dec. 30, 2022)
- Official Q&A: NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission (Dec. 30, 2022)
NPC Observer Coverage
- Explainer: NPCSC’s Interpretation of Hong Kong National Security Law over Jimmy Lai’s Foreign Defense Counsel (Dec. 30, 2022)
- Explainer: Hong Kong Government’s Request for NPCSC Interpretation of National Security Law in Jimmy Lai Case (Nov. 30, 2022)
PRIOR BILL: 2020 Enactment
- Status: Passed
- Legislative Body (Vote): NPCSC (162–0–0)
- Principal Drafter: ☭ Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macao Affairs
- Submitter: Council of Chairpersons
- Legislative Plans
- Five-year: N/A
- Annual: 2020
- Legislative History & Text
- NPCSC deliberation – round #2 (final): June 28 – 30, 2020 (Current Text ⇧)
- NPCSC deliberation – round #1: June 18 – 20, 2020 (text N/A)
- Legislative Records
- Explanation (June 18, 2020)
- Report on Results of Deliberation (June 28, 2020)
- Report on Suggestions for Revision (June 29, 2020)
- Presidential Order (June 30, 2020)
- HKSAR Basic Law Annex III Listing Decision (June 30, 2020)
- Explanation (June 30, 2020)
- Press Conference: State Council Information Office (July 1, 2020)
NPC Observer Coverage
- Legislation Summary: Hong Kong National Security Law (June 30, 2020)
- NPCSC Concludes First June Session Before Immediately Scheduling Another, Likely to Adopt Hong Kong National Security Law (June 21, 2020)
- NPCSC Releases Some Details of the Draft Hong Kong National Security Law, But Withholds Information on Criminal Provisions (June 20, 2020)
- 2020 NPC Session: NPC’s Decision on National Security in Hong Kong Explained (May 22, 2020)
RELATED LAW ›
NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal Systems and Enforcement Mechanisms for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR
全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定
(adopted and effective May 28, 2020)
全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定
(adopted and effective May 28, 2020)
Last updated: October 3, 2025, 14:46 EDT