Paul Lam Ting Kwok SBS SC JP (Chinese: 林定國; born 1968) is a Hong Kong Senior Counsel, currently serving as the 5th Secretary for Justice since July 2022.

[4][25][26][27][28][29] On 16 May 2014, Lam was appointed by the Chief Executive, Leung Chun-ying, as Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Apeals Board for a term of 3 years with effect from 1 June 2014.

[4][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57] While sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge in March 2015, Lam presided over the trial in Lau Oi Kiu v Man Chun Shing and Hau Chi Keung.

Lam observed that the "overall impression is that they [i.e. Man and Hau] were contemptuous of the law, and adopted the attitude of “catch me if you can and if you dare”.

[58] While sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge in March 2019, Lam presided over the trial in Lai Yiu Mun Susanna v Tsang Kai Choy Paul and others.

In view of the contents of the email, Lam decided to recuse himself because "Considering all relevant circumstances as a whole, I was driven to the conclusion that a reasonable, fair-minded and well-informed observer would conclude that there a real possibility (not probability) that I would be influenced subconsciously by extraneous considerations arising out of the content of the Email due to my association with the Sender".

I cannot emphasize more how important it is, at this time in Hong Kong, and indeed as is always the case, to maintain and enhance public confidence in the judiciary and the judicial system as a whole.

[6][67] On 20 June 2022, the Hong Kong Bar Association issued a statement welcoming Lam's appointment and expressing "confidence that he will defend the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary".

[69] In July 2022, the United States' Congressional-Executive Commission on China recommended that Lam be sanctioned by the US government due to the perception that Lam is "widely expected to continue to oversee the tough prosecutorial approach of his predecessor, Teresa Cheng Yuek-wah, against opposition figures, activists and protesters.

[71] Later, he said he was enraged by the report and that the Department of Justice coworkers "share a bitter hatred of the enemy", and that the Hong Kong government would protect them from sanctions.

[74] Lam and other government officials were criticized by Lew Mon-hung for "crossing the line" with his statements on Taiwan, as the Basic Law stipulates that diplomatic affairs of Hong Kong are to be handled by mainland China's Foreign Ministry.

[75][76] In October 2022, after losing a court battle, the government changed the law to give the Secretary of Health the power to invalidate COVID-19 vaccine exemption passes.

[78] In November 2022, Lam said that in reference to telling stories about Hong Kong, "We're not brainwashing people, or saying something polished or fabricated.

[79] In December 2022, Lam sent a certificate to the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, "demanding" that the case be held without a jury.

"[80] In January 2023, Lam wrote in a newspaper and said Western countries were slandering Hong Kong's judicial system, and said "We must strengthen our defence and fight back, both internally and externally.

[90] In September 2022, Lam opposed an attempt by Lai to hire a lawyer from the UK,[91] with the Department of Justice saying it does not comment on individual cases.

[92] Later on 27 October 2022, Lam appealed the High Court's decision, saying the UK lawyer would not add anything significant to the trial.

[96] After Lam and the Department of Justice lost its appeal, former Chief Executive CY Leung criticized the court's decision, and said its judges were "looking to the West for teaching and command" on national security.

[97] On 15 November 2022, Lam and the Department of Justice filed a "final" appeal, with the hope of not allowing Lai to use the UK lawyer.

[102] Lee said that Lam would also seek to adjourn Lai's case from the original 1 December 2022 date until a later time, pending the NPCSC's decision.

[100] HKU professor Simon Young Ngai-man commented and said it was difficult to see why foreign lawyers were a greater national security risk and should be banned, when local Hong Kong barristers could also have multiple citizenships and passports.

"[108] Professor Chan also said "No matter how hard the government tries to tell the international community about the rule of law in Hong Kong, the interpretation would send a completely contradictory message.

"[110] On 24 January 2023, Lam promised that legislation to block foreign lawyers would be implemented in the first half of 2023, and that he would listen to "constructive" viewpoints.