Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu requested an interpretation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) from the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) over a legal matter arising from whether Timothy Owen, a British barrister who is not qualified to practice law in Hong Kong, may act as counsel for Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in a case involving points of national security. The NPCSC after hearing a report from Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, promulgated an interpretation on Dec 30, 2022, over the matter.