Writer
Grenville Cross
Grenville Cross is a senior counsel and law professor, and was previously the director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Legislative trends on anti-interference in major Western countries
When Hong Kong’s policy makers were formulating the offence of foreign interference endangering national security, they did not operate in a vacuum. International models were examined, and they heavily influenced the final product. They included the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Amendment) Act 2018 of Australia, now incorporated into the country’s Criminal Code Act Continue reading »
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Gaza hellscape: Starmer recalibrates UK foreign policy for global justice
After the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, Israel stopped the entry of food, fuel and medicine into Gaza. When asked by London-based radio station LBC’s Nick Ferrari on Oct 11 if the cutting off of power and water was appropriate, the Labour leader (now prime minister), Sir Keir Starmer, said, “Israel does have Continue reading »
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“What sort of country locks people away for years for planning a peaceful demonstration?”
In recent times, rights of protest have faced crackdowns throughout Europe. Continue reading »
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UK’s Starmer should develop balanced foreign policy
On June 13, when the UK Labour Party issued its manifesto for the general election on July 4, its focus was domestic issues. This was understandable, as elections are won and lost on bread-and-butter issues. There were, however, some references to foreign policy, albeit nothing too beefy. Signed by the Labour Party leader (now prime Continue reading »
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Court of final appeal: Overseas judges must prioritise service over politics
The rule of law has always been fundamental to the success story that is modern Hong Kong, and its custodian is the judiciary. Continue reading »
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Human rights protections underpin safeguarding national security ordinance
Grenville Cross says new legislation incorporates guarantees lacking in other common-law jurisdictions’ similar laws. Continue reading »
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The Trial of Jimmy Lai: A letter to the UK Prime Minister
There can be no question of the National Security Law being repealed. Likewise, I imagine there is no question of your government repealing its National Security Act (2023). Continue reading »
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Asia should forge its own way and no longer be subservient to the US and its outriders like Japan
The old adage “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” is a warning not to take things at face value. If caution is abandoned, the consequences may be dire. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s resilient legal system can withstand interference from foreigners
Although the trial of the former media magnate Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on charges involving sedition and collusion with foreign forces, was scheduled to begin on Dec 18, there were last-minute attempts from abroad to disrupt it. Continue reading »
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Criminal suspects: HK acts to protect itself from hostile forces
Although Penny Wong is eager to condemn Hong Kong, she has done nothing of any substance to help her fellow countryman, Julian Assange; an Australian citizen currently in a UK jail fighting extradition to the US, which is using the extraterritorial reach of the Espionage Act (1917) for the alleged “crime” of exposing malfeasance at Continue reading »
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Threats to judges an affront to rule of law that shames US
On May 12, the former president of the UN Security Council, Kishore Mahbubani, warned Hong Kong that it faced ongoing turbulence amidst global tensions. It should expect to be “kicked around like a football” over the next decade, although this has already started. Continue reading »
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US hypocrisy: serial rules-breaker forfeits global credibility
On May 3, 2021, when the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, was interviewed by 60 Minutes, he said, “Our purpose is not to contain China, to hold it back, to keep it down. It is to uphold the rules-based order that China is posing a threat to.” Continue reading »
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Global tensions: Peacemakers must trump warmongers
China’s calls for calm stand in stark contrast to US provocations. Continue reading »
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Ukraine conflict: China promotes peaceful solutions over warmongering
Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime leader, said that “jaw-jaw is better than war-war”, and he should know. Continue reading »
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Marcos beware: US militarisation of the Philippines endangers regional peace and stability
When Ferdinand E Marcos was elected the 10th president of the Philippines in 1965, it was with the support of the United States. Laudatory articles about him appeared in the American media, and the US vice president, Hubert Humphrey, attended his inauguration. The US saw him as an amenable politician who was also popular, although Continue reading »
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Patten’s propaganda: barrack-room lawyer’s phony Hong Kong analysis debunked
In legal circles, outsiders who hold forth on legal issues without understanding the law or knowing the facts are held in particular contempt. They are known as “barrack-room lawyers”, a term that originally derived from military slang. Continue reading »
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UK chaos: Hong Kong emigrants duped by false prospectus
In 1711, Alexander Pope, the English poet, wrote that “fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. Continue reading »
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Taiwan reunification: US benefits from cross-straits divisions
Although the United States often expresses concerns over the possibility of Taiwan being reunified with its motherland by force, it claims to support consensual reunification. This, however, could not be further from the truth, and its own national interests dictate otherwise. It benefits enormously from cross-Straits divisions, and the last thing it wants to see Continue reading »
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One country, two systems: Judiciary upholds Hong Kong’s legal system and way of life
Since Hong Kong was reunified with the motherland in 1997, its fortunes have been guided by the Basic Law, its mini-constitution. This guarantees that its capitalist system and way of life will remain unchanged for 50 years, and that it enjoys a “high degree of autonomy”. Continue reading »
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US revives Monroe Doctrine to provoke China, defend hegemonism
After the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan on August 2, 2022, her compatriots continued to stoke regional tensions. They have sought to provoke China at every opportunity, hoping to trigger a response. Whereas their rhetoric has been inflammatory, their hypocrisy has been blatant. Continue reading »
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Britain’s opium era strategy to deal with China
THE DAOGUANG EMPEROR tasked Commissioner Lin Zexu with suppressing the opium trade bedeviling China in 1839. Lin initially tried diplomacy. Continue reading »
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An open letter to Boris Johnson about his ignorance of Hong Kong
On the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in the British national interest, there should be a correct understanding of the situation in Hong Kong. It is important for there to be a healthier relationship with China. Continue reading »
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The Hong Kong diaries: Patten revives colonialism, trying to attract interest
Although the United Kingdom traditionally regarded Hong Kong as a colony, this changed over time. Continue reading »
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Reflections on Criminal Justice in Hong Kong since 1997
The judiciary, the prosecutions division and the police force have all faced great challenges since 1997, and they have all learnt from their experiences and emerged stronger.That is not what the anti-China media have told us. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s assured future beyond 2047 by China is a fillip for everybody
Local people, foreign investors and the commercial world can now put their minds at rest. It will be business as usual after 2047, not least for the common law legal system and the rule of law Continue reading »
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Double standards by the International Criminal Court
Are the people of Ukraine more worthy and valuable than the people of Yemen? Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s legal system can be judged on its merits
Criticism of the city’s independent and highly professional judiciary is malicious, groundless and often politically motivated. Continue reading »
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Foreign interference: Protective mechanisms in Hong Kong are legitimate and necessary
‘One country, two systems’ is key to Hong Kong’s success, notwithstanding the best efforts of the US and its partners. Continue reading »
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AUKUS is a stab in the back and a big mistake
By becoming little more than a US outpost, Australia is progressively sacrificing its role as an independent actor in the Asia-Pacific region, and diminishing its clout accordingly. Continue reading »
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US hostility towards Hong Kong exposed for all to see
In recent years, China’s achievements have surpassed all expectations, and the United States has become increasingly paranoid. Continue reading »
