General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6307 / JDOC6307 |
| Course name: | Hong Kong National Security Law in Comparative Perspective |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course offers a comprehensive analysis of the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), the 2024 Safeguarding national Security Ordinance (Art 23 legislation), and relevant national security cases. It covers a wide range of theoretical and legal issues including the constitutionality of the NSL, national security offences and penalties, police power, protection of ICCPR rights, national security institutions, courts, jurisdiction, cross-regional legal issues, and interpretation. The course introduces the NSL within the Basic Law framework and involves a variety of laws relevant to the implement of the NSL, including the Basic Law, Hong Kong laws, Chinese public law, and international human rights laws.
The course explores controversies surrounding the Hong Kong’s national security laws from a comparative perspective by referring to legal practices in other jurisdictions, particularly mainland China, countries such as South Korea and Spain with serious national integrity concerns, and common law jurisdictions such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Singapore. The course also examines broader political and social dimensions implicated in national security laws matters. The course aims to help students objectively appraise the NSL and reflect on legal approaches to balance the tension between national security and human rights.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Han Zhu | zhuhanhk@hku.hk | CCT 411 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the national security law regime in Hong Kong and learn how to apply these laws to specific cases.
CLO 2 Comprehend major controversies surrounding Hong Kong’s national security laws, as well as the ideological, political, and legal factors underlying these disputes.
CLO 3 Critically and objectively appraise the tension between national security and human rights from a comparative perspective, and reflect on legal approaches to balance the two.
CLO 4 Develop an awareness of the broader political, legal and social implications of national security laws.
CLO 5 Understand the development of national security laws in a global context, and identify the similarities and distinctions between Hong Kong’s national security law and those of other jurisdictions.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Participation in discussion | N/A | 10% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Course essay | TBC | 90% | 2, 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/