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HKFP
14 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Same-sex partnership bill: Hong Kong's top court rulings have force of law – lawmakers should know better
At the heart of Hong Kong's success has been its reputation as a bastion of the rule of law in Asia. Yet Hong Kong's rule of law has been severely tested. In 2014-15, for 79 days, protesters occupied the city's Central district in defiance of the law, characterising their action as civil disobedience. A core characteristic of civil disobedience is breaking the law to protest a political or social cause and facing the consequences. Authorities arrested many of the protesters, especially their leaders, prosecuting and convicting them for public order offences. Officials reminded citizens of their duty to obey the law. In 2019, anti-government protesters repeatedly broke the law, breaking into and trashing the Legislative Council (LegCo) chamber, confronting and resisting police, violating public order laws, rioting, and other kinds of violence and vandalism. By 2021, authorities had arrested at least 10,000 and had charged at least 3,000 with various crimes ranging from riot to undermining national security. In its landmark policy statement made public on October 31, 2019, the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee reminded the people of Hong Kong of their duty to obey the law and urged authorities to strengthen education in the law. Their focus was on Hong Kong's foundational documents, the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution. Central and local authorities have repeatedly urged citizens to respect the law. It is the law, Chief Executive John Lee has said, and therefore must be obeyed. For example, in 2023, speaking about whether authorities would permit Tiananmen commemorations, the chief executive said: 'Everybody should act in accordance with the law and think of what they do, so as to be ready to face the consequences.' Speaking of national security, Secretary for Security Chris Tang and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam have repeatedly urged citizens to obey the law. As pointed out by Lam, Article 42 of the Basic Law reads: ''Hong Kong residents and other persons in Hong Kong shall have the obligation to abide by the laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region'. The rule of law can only exist and prevail in a society where people are willing to, and in fact, obey the law. It follows that people who breach the law should be brought to justice.' In our system, Court of Final Appeal (CFA) judgments have the force of law. To disobey the law, as the secretary for justice has pointed out, is unacceptable. It follows that citizens may not cherry-pick the law, deciding on their own which legal obligations to follow and which to ignore. It comes as a disappointment that three lawyers, all LegCo members, appear to be advocating disregarding Hong Kong's legal obligations. At issue is the government's proposal to establish a same-sex partnership recognition scheme to fulfil a top court-imposed legal obligation. The three lawyers – Priscilla Leung, Holden Chow, and Junius Ho – have all denounced a government bill that would meet the court's requirements and are actively campaigning against it. They propose no alternative. Other lawmakers appear to have noticed the hypocrisy. For example, LegCo member Edmund Wong asked whether LegCo would be framed as 'not respecting the rule of law' if it rejected the bill. Simply put, yes. What message does this send? May citizens decide on their own which legal obligations to obey? How can it be right to obey legal obligations generally but to disobey others based on some personal considerations? What if each citizen followed this example? The consequences would be chaos. The Basic Law requires that LegCo consider the government's proposal, and so it should. But are they up to the job? Consider the comments of lawmaker Erik Yim, who declared that if the government's proposal became law, 'after completing registration, the same-sex couples might hold bouquets and even wear wedding gowns [at the registration office], taking pictures and sharing them on social media. This may give society a sense of de facto marriage.' Mr Yim should realise that we already celebrate overseas marriages in Hong Kong. I am attending a same-sex couple's wedding banquet in Hong Kong next month. We hold bouquets, we wear wedding attire, we take pictures and share them on social media. The sky has not fallen. Are all LegCo members well enough informed to pass judgement on this issue? I don't understand. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang has urged LegCo members to be 'rational, balanced and pragmatic.' Let's hope his advice prevails. We're supposed to have an executive-led system. Where is it? To the government's credit, authorities recognise that even if LegCo rejects the bill, the government will have an ongoing legal obligation to fulfil the CFA's ruling. And so it should.
Iraq Business
15 hours ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq Sets Conditions for Reopening Applications for Bismayah Housing Units
By John Lee. The National Investment Commission (NIC) has reportedly announced that applications for housing units in the Bismayah Residential Project will reopen only after the resumption of work by South Korea's Hanwha Engineering & Construction, the company contracted to complete an additional 70,000 housing units under a new phase of the project. NIC spokesperson Hanan Jasem told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that three conditions must be met before applications can be accepted again: A full review of the existing digital application platform. Exclusion of applicants under the legal age or over 60 years old. Ensuring no duplicate applications from individuals within the same family, in accordance with public bank lending rules. Jasem confirmed that around 70,000 Iraqis had already applied via the "Ur" government platform. She added that the Bismayah complex has a total planned capacity of approximately 100,000 units, intended to house around 600,000 people. According to the INA article, Hanwha has completed about 30,000 units to date, of which roughly 21,000 have been officially handed over to the Commission and distributed to eligible citizens. (Source: INA)
Iraq Business
15 hours ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
OPEC SG to Attend Baghdad International Energy Forum
By John Lee. The Ministry of Oil has announced that the upcoming Baghdad International Energy Forum will feature high-level participation, including a keynote address by OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais. The event is scheduled to take place in Baghdad on 6-7 September. Senior energy ministers from friendly and partner nations, top government officials, and leading experts in energy, oil, and economics are also expected to participate. The forum will be held under the patronage of State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and will host senior executives from major global oil and energy companies-both those already operating in Iraq and others looking to invest. The forum underscores Iraq's growing importance as a key player in global energy markets, and reflects OPEC's and other stakeholders' interest in enhanced dialogue and coordination amid evolving geopolitical and economic conditions affecting oil and energy. This strategic platform will focus on issues such as energy security, sustainability, and energy transition, through panel discussions and workshops bringing together decision-makers and international experts. The Ministry emphasised that the forum exemplifies Iraq's policy of openness and international cooperation, reinforcing its position as a reliable and influential partner in shaping the regional and global energy future. (Source: Ministry of Oil)
Iraq Business
15 hours ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq to Launch New Colleges for AI and Digital Excellence
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced the establishment of two new colleges at the University of Baghdad: the College of Excellence and the College of Artificial Intelligence, with operations set to begin in the 2025/2026 academic year. The initiative was ordered by Higher Education Minister Dr. Naeem Abd Yaser Al-Aboudi, as part of a strategic vision to modernise Iraq's academic system and align it with global advancements in digital transformation and knowledge-based economies. The College of Excellence will house departments including Applied Information Systems, Data Science, E-Business Management, Accounting and Banking, Philosophy, and Sociology. Meanwhile, the College of Artificial Intelligence will offer programmes focused on engineering applications, biomedical AI, and big data analytics. Dr. Al-Aboudi has set 20 August 2025 as the deadline for fulfilling all logistical and staffing requirements. The Ministry's Directorate of Studies, Planning and Follow-up has been tasked with establishing admissions criteria and application mechanisms to ensure the recruitment of capable students and the development of forward-looking learning environments. The full ministerial order can be viewed here. (Source: Ministry of Higher Education)
Iraq Business
15 hours ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq and Czech Republic discuss Investment Protection Agreement
By John Lee. The National Investment Commission of Iraq has announced the start of the third round of discussions on the draft Agreement for the Encouragement and Protection of Investments between Iraq and the Czech Republic. The meetings, held in Prague on 22-23 July, follow the recent visit by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani to the Czech Republic and are part of Iraq's efforts to strengthen economic ties and promote mutual investment. The discussions aim to foster a sustainable economic partnership, facilitate technology transfer, create jobs, and support economic development. The Iraqi delegation was led by NIC Chairman Dr. Haider Muhammad Makiyya, accompanied by the Iraqi negotiation team. The Czech side was led by Martina Matušová, alongside the Czech negotiation team. Iraq's chargé d'affaires in Prague, Mr. Hussein Al-Safi, and his deputy Mr. Samer Jamal also attended. In his remarks, Dr. Makiya highlighted legislative and procedural reforms that have transformed Iraq's investment environment in recent years, citing a significant rise in both local and foreign investment activity. He officially opened the round of talks, describing the agreement as a milestone in deepening bilateral economic cooperation. Over two days, the parties engaged in in-depth discussions and advanced the drafting of key provisions. Further rounds of negotiation are planned, with the final version of the agreement to be submitted for formal approval under Iraqi law. On the second day, Czech Deputy Finance Minister Tomáš welcomed the progress and expressed optimism for future talks. He praised Iraq's recent reforms and confirmed that the Czech Ministry of Finance, through its representative at the OECD, would support efforts to improve Iraq's international investment rating. Iraq's total investment volume has reportedly reached $99 billion. Tomáš also acknowledged Iraq's recent investment agreements with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE as encouraging signs of a stable and investor-friendly environment. (Source: NIC)
