国务院港澳办主任夏宝龙昨日在北京会见香港特区终审法院首席法官张举能率领的司法机构代表团一行。在美国政客叫嚣制裁香港法官的背景下，此次会面以及夏宝龙主任的讲话，传递出了清晰信息：中央充分肯定特区司法机构的重要作用，坚定支持特区司法机构依法独立行使审判权，不受任何外力干涉。这既是对特区司法机构的巨大支持，也是对香港社会坚定维护法治的有力鼓舞。

　　夏宝龙主任在讲话中，充分肯定了香港特区司法机构在维护国家安全、捍卫香港法治、营造世界一流营商环境等方面的重要作用。众所周知，法治是香港的核心价值，但在过去几年尤其是2019年期间，法治遭受到了严重践踏，国家安全面临严重挑战，营商环境遭到严重破坏。随着国安法的颁布实施，香港实现了由乱到治的根本性转变，并迈入由治及兴的新阶段，这离不开中央坚定支持，离不开社会各界共同努力，也离不开司法机构的履职尽责。

　　然而，反华势力见不得香港好，千方百计破坏香港法治。近日美国政客变本加厉，举行所谓“听证会”并发表所谓的“报告”，除了继续玩弄抹黑香港国安法和香港司法制度的把戏外，更图穷匕见，列出29名曾参与审理国安法案件法官的名单，威胁要实施制裁。其所作所为的根本目的，就是要破坏香港国安法的顺利有效实施，并为美国在港政治代理人开脱罪行。

　　司法独立，这是放诸四海而皆准的原则。西方政客大搞“双重标准”，公然干预香港司法，非但吓不倒香港法官，达不到“捞人”的目的，反而进一步坐实了破坏香港法治的不是别人，恰恰是美英反华政客。香港特区法官不受恐吓，坚守岗位依法公正审理案件。正如司法机构发言人日前所指出，将谨守司法誓言，奉公守法，以无惧、无偏、无私、无欺之精神，严格按照法律原则，维护司法公义。

　　夏宝龙主任在讲话中进一步指出，鼓励特区司法机构继续维护宪法和基本法确定的特别行政区宪制秩序，全面准确实施香港国安法，保持香港长期繁荣稳定。夏宝龙强调，中央支持司法机构依法独立行使审判权，不受任何外部势力干涉。这是对香港特区法官依法履职的巨大支持，也是对特区司法机构未来继续做好工作提出的希望。

　　外国势力动摇不了香港法治。事实上，特区司法机构并非孤军作战，背后不仅有七百多万香港市民的全力支持，更有祖国作为强大靠山。当外国势力作出制裁的威胁时，国务院港澳办、香港中联办、驻港国安公署、外交部驻港公署等机构及时发表声明，严辞谴责美国政客干预香港司法的恶劣行径，支持香港司法机构公正履行职责。

　　千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东南西北风。在中央坚定支持下，香港法治排名继续位居全球前列，足证香港法治坚如磐石，西方干预和制裁枉费心机。昨日张举能在与国家首席大法官、最高人民法院院长张军会面时表示，香港司法机构始终严格履行宪法和基本法赋予的重要职责，依法维护国家安全和特区宪制秩序，遵从司法誓言不惧不偏处理案件。这体现了特区司法机构坚守法治的决心。香港社会相信，特区司法机构一定能履行好宪制责任，更好地维护国家安全和香港的法治。

　　With the Central Government's support for the rule of law in Hong Kong, external forces waste their efforts to interfere

　　Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, met in Beijing yesterday with a delegation of representatives from the Judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR led by Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal. Against the backdrop of American politicians clamouring for sanctions against Hong Kong judges, this meeting and Director Xia Baolong's speech delivers an unambiguous message that the Central Government fully recognises the important role played by the SAR's Judiciary, firmly supports the SAR's Judiciary in exercising its judicial power independently and free from any external interference. This not only lends enormous support to the SAR's Judiciary but also vitally inspires Hong Kong society to staunchly safeguard the rule of law.

　　In his speech, Director Xia Baolong fully recognises the important role played by the Judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security, upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong, and creating a world-class business environment. It is well known that the rule of law is Hong Kong's core value. But in the past several year particularly in the year 2019, the rule of law was severely trampled, national security faced serious challenges and the business environment was heavily damaged. With the promulgation of the Hong Kong national security law, the SAR now has accomplished the fundamental change of restoring order from chaos and entered a new stage of advancing from stability to prosperity. All this cannot be achieved without the Central Government's strong support, without the joint effort of all social sectors and without the Judiciary dutifully fulfilling its responsibilities.

　　Nevertheless, anti-China elements are resentful of Hong Kong's betterment and rack their brains trying to jeopardise the rule of law in Hong Kong. Recently American politicians have gone even further to hold so-called "testimonies" and issued a so-called "report". In addition to continuing playing the trick of smearing the Hong Kong national security law and Hong Kong's judicial system, the report comes to open hostilities after subterfuges fail, by including a list of 29 Hong Kong judges known to have presided over cases concerning national security and threatening to impose sanctions against them. The fundamental aim of all this is to jeopardise the smooth and effective implementation of the Hong Kong national security law and to absolve the United States' political proxies in Hong Kong from their crimes.

　　Judicial independence is a principle applicable everywhere. Yet Western politicians wantonly play double standard and openly interfere with the administration of justice in Hong Kong. This not only fails to scare off Hong Kong's judges and achieve their aim of rescuing their proxies, but instead further confirms that it is not others but American and British anti-China politicians themselves who try to damage the rule of law in Hong Kong. Judges of the Hong Kong SAR, impervious to intimidation, stand firm at their posts to justly hear cases in accordance with the law. As the Judiciary's spokesperson pointed out days ago, all Hong Kong judges must abide by the Judicial Oath to administer justice in full accordance with the law, without fear or favour, self-interest or deceit.

　　Director Xia Baolong in his speech further encourages the SAR's Judiciary to continue to uphold the SAR's constitutional order established under the Constitution and Basic Law, fully and accurately implement the Hong Kong national security law and maintain long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. Xia Baolong emphasises that the Central Government supports the Judiciary in exercising its judicial power independently and free from any external interference. This lends great support for judges in the Hong Kong SAR to fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and pins his hopes on the SAR's Judiciary to continue to do a good job in future.

　　External forces can never shake the rule of law in Hong Kong. As a matter of fact, the SAR's Judiciary does not fight a lone battle. Behind it, there are not only the full support of over seven million Hong Kong citizens but also the strong backing of our Motherland. When external elements threatened to impose sanctions, institutions, such as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, respectively issued statements in time to condemn with stern words American politicians' disgusting conduct of interfering with the administration of justice in Hong Kong and support the Judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR to justly fulfill its duties.

　　"From whichever direction the winds leap, I remain strong and unyielding despite dealt many a blow." With the Central Government's strong support, the rule of law in Hong Kong continues to rank high globally. This is evidence that the rule of law in Hong Kong is rock-firm and the West wastes its efforts with its interference and sanctions.　　In yesterday's meeting with Zhang Jun, the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme People's Court, Andrew Cheung said the Judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR always dutifully fulfills its important responsibilities delegated by the Constitution and Basic Law, safeguards national security and the SAR's constitutional order in accordance with the law and abides by the Judicial Oath to administer justice without fear or favour. This shows the SAR's Judiciary's determination to uphold the rule of law. Hong Kong society has faith in the Judiciary's ability to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to better safeguard national security and the rule of law in Hong Kong.