Hong Kong leader brushes off concerns of lawyers over China joint rail checkpoint plan, saying legal basis is clear

Carrie Lam hits out at ‘elitist mentality’ held by some in the local legal sector, who she says assume the Hong Kong system to be superior to the mainland’s

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Lam said a three-step process outlined by which Hong Kong would implement the so-called co-location arrangement for the line to Guangzhou was ‘entirely prudent and lawful’. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:45pm, 31 Dec 2017Updated: 11:39pm, 31 Dec 2017

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Sunday broke her silence over mounting criticism by local lawyers of the contentious joint checkpoint plan for the city’s cross-border rail link, hitting out at what she called an “elitist mentality” among those opposing it.

The chief executive’s remarks came after a number of legal experts vehemently attacked the proposal to station mainland control officers and enforce mainland laws in part of the Hong Kong rail terminal at West Kowloon, saying the city’s mini-constitution did not provide for such an arrangement.

The rail link is expected to begin operation in the third quarter of 2018. Photo: Felix Wong

Lam dismissed concerns about the legal basis for the checkpoint, saying a three-step process outlined by which Hong Kong would implement the arrangement for the line to Guangzhou was “entirely prudent and lawful”.

“I think it is inaccurate for some people in the legal sector to describe such a careful procedure as being merely someone’s call, or rule by man,” Lam said.

Ongoing row over legality of joint checkpoint plan sees Hong Kong’s ex-justice minister and mainland scholars enter the fray

“If you ask me, it shows the elitist mentality or double standards held by some of the lawyers in Hong Kong. They think Hong Kong’s legal system is paramount while the legal system of the mainland – a big country with a population of 1.3 billion – is not right.”