Hong Kong has retained its sixth position in East Asia and the Pacific, and 24th out of 143 countries and jurisdictions globally in this year’s Rule of Law Index.

In a statement responding to the World Justice Project’s annual index released on Tuesday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said the city’s overall score remains unchanged and is the same as the countries ranked 22nd and 23rd globally.

Hong Kong remains high in the overall ranking and continues to be ahead of some European and American countries, which often unreasonably criticize the rule of law and human rights situation of Hong Kong, said the government.

The city maintains its position within the top 10 globally in respect of “absence of corruption” and “order and security”. The global rankings in relation to “absence of corruption” and “regulatory enforcement” are higher than last year, ranking ninth and 15th, respectively.

This demonstrates that the SAR remains one of the most corruption-free places in the world and that the effectiveness of its anti-corruption efforts has been recognized globally, said the statement.

This also shows the HKSAR government’s full commitment to combating acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law after the full implementation of the National Security Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and other laws safeguarding national security in the city, restoring order in the community and ensuring steady economic development and its long-term prosperity and stability effectively, it added.

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The continuous improvement in these areas is conducive to the construction of the rule of law and a positive business environment, consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's unique advantages, and allowing it to fully play its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” through its connectivity with both the Chinese mainland and the world, said the government.

The SAR’s rankings in respect of “criminal justice”, “civil justice”, and “constraints on government powers” remain almost unchanged.

Its judicial system is protected by the Basic Law, while all prosecutorial decisions are based on an objective analysis of admissible evidence and applicable laws, free from any interference, the statement said, adding that the legal framework in Hong Kong aligns with international standards and keeps up with the times, fully safeguarding the rights of all parties.

The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, and anyone charged with a criminal offense or involved in civil and commercial cases has the right to a fair hearing, it added.

Meanwhile, the city’s scores and global rankings slightly dropped in the aspects of “open government” and “fundamental rights”, but the rankings in these areas in East Asia and the Pacific remain unchanged.

The minor drop in the rankings does not fully reflect the real situation in Hong Kong, the HKSAR government said, emphasizing that it will continue to strengthen its explanatory work through various channels.

Pointing out that Hong Kong has a robust legal framework for the protection of human rights and an open judicial system, the statement said the government steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by its citizens as protected under the law.

The city’s residents can seek justice through legal means and are protected by a solid legal aid system under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, it added.

Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world, the statement said, adding that the city’s legal system is fair and well-established, highly aligned with international standards, and home to a deep pool of legal professionals with extensive international experience.

The construction of the rule of law in Hong Kong remains robust and stable, and its high standard of justice has been widely recognized and respected by the international community, it added.

The SAR government stressed that it will steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, fully and faithfully live up to the principle of “one country, two systems,” and promote the rule of law education to comprehensively uphold the rule of law in the city.

The government said it will also enhance its explanatory efforts through various channels, including inviting overseas people to engage in international events such as international legal forums in Hong Kong, enabling them to experience and understand its actual situation firsthand.