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HONG KONG, June 3-- The national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will not affect Hong Kong's judicial independence and its residents' legitimate rights, HKSAR government's Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng has said, urging the general public "not to be misled by people with ulterior motives." In a recent interview with Xinhua, Cheng refuted unwarranted claims by some foreign politicians that the national security legislation will undermine Hong Kong's common law system and judicial independence. "Countries that practice common law, such as the United States and Britain, have already enacted laws for safeguarding national security. There is no inevitable conflict between the common law system and national security laws," she said. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, its judiciary has been exercising independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, Cheng noted. The spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has reiterated that the national security legislation will never affect Hong Kong's independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. "I believe Hong Kong's judicial independence will not be affected." Stressing that the national security legislation only targets at the small minority committing serious crimes, the justice secretary also rebutted allegations by the opposition that Hong Kong residents' rights and freedoms will be compromised due to the legislation. | 
