Grenville Cross, former director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said global perceptions of Hong Kong's legal system often diverge from objective assessments, calling on observers to rely on evidence rather than political narratives. Citing the World Justice Project's latest rule-of-law rankings, which place Hong Kong 24th – above the United States and several European countries – Cross argued that Hong Kong's courts operate in line with common-law standards and that "One Country, Two Systems" continues to function effectively. He urged critics to examine data and court judgments directly and not be swayed by politicized portrayals.