British lawyers defending Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai say they have received threats
//Barristers from a British law firm who are representing jailed Hong Kong tycoon and democracy campaigner #JimmyLai said on July 7, 2022 they had received anonymous e-mails warning them against travelling to the city to defend him.
Lai is among the most prominent people in Hong Kong to be charged under a #National SecurityLaw that Beijing imposed in June 2020 to punish terrorism, collusion with foreign forces, subversion and secession with possible life imprisonment.
The barristers - Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Jonathan Price and Jennifer Robinson from Doughty Street Chambers - told Reuters the messages came from a generic Gmail address.
"A person that refuses to abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region could be extradited...from other jurisdictions. Foreign nationals will be charged with the offences of subversion," one of the e-mails said. "You have been warned not to attempt entry or land in Chinese territory."
The barristers declined to say if they would be travelling to Hong Kong for the trial.
"Threatening journalists, campaigners and lawyers within Hong Kong has been happening for some time," the barristers said in an e-mail.
"Now these intimidatory tactics are spreading outside the borders of China and Hong Kong."
Police said in a statement they were concerned about the media reports and "strongly condemn the act of impersonating police officers". They appealed to those concerned to provide further information.
The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the barristers would be allowed to enter Hong Kong.
Baroness Helena Kennedy, Director of the International Bar Association's Institute of Fundamental Rights, condemned what she said was an act of intimidation.
"Intimidating the lawyers who act for citizens pursuing freedom and democracy is the tactic of an authoritarian regime," she said.
"Jimmy Lai's right to instruct international lawyers of his choice is fundamental to a fair trial. The Hong Kong authorities seem to have abandoned the values which underpin the rule of law."//
Source: Reuters #Jul7
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/british-lawyers-defending-hong-kong-tycoon-say-they-receive-threats-2022-07-07/
#PoliceState #CCP #Intimidation #FairTrial #Lawyer #Court #AppleDaily #NextMedia
//Barristers from a British law firm who are representing jailed Hong Kong tycoon and democracy campaigner #JimmyLai said on July 7, 2022 they had received anonymous e-mails warning them against travelling to the city to defend him.
Lai is among the most prominent people in Hong Kong to be charged under a #National SecurityLaw that Beijing imposed in June 2020 to punish terrorism, collusion with foreign forces, subversion and secession with possible life imprisonment.
The barristers - Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Jonathan Price and Jennifer Robinson from Doughty Street Chambers - told Reuters the messages came from a generic Gmail address.
"A person that refuses to abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region could be extradited...from other jurisdictions. Foreign nationals will be charged with the offences of subversion," one of the e-mails said. "You have been warned not to attempt entry or land in Chinese territory."
The barristers declined to say if they would be travelling to Hong Kong for the trial.
"Threatening journalists, campaigners and lawyers within Hong Kong has been happening for some time," the barristers said in an e-mail.
"Now these intimidatory tactics are spreading outside the borders of China and Hong Kong."
Police said in a statement they were concerned about the media reports and "strongly condemn the act of impersonating police officers". They appealed to those concerned to provide further information.
The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the barristers would be allowed to enter Hong Kong.
Baroness Helena Kennedy, Director of the International Bar Association's Institute of Fundamental Rights, condemned what she said was an act of intimidation.
"Intimidating the lawyers who act for citizens pursuing freedom and democracy is the tactic of an authoritarian regime," she said.
"Jimmy Lai's right to instruct international lawyers of his choice is fundamental to a fair trial. The Hong Kong authorities seem to have abandoned the values which underpin the rule of law."//
Source: Reuters #Jul7
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/british-lawyers-defending-hong-kong-tycoon-say-they-receive-threats-2022-07-07/
#PoliceState #CCP #Intimidation #FairTrial #Lawyer #Court #AppleDaily #NextMedia
Reuters
Lawyers defending Hong Kong tycoon say they have received threats
Barristers from a British law firm who are representing jailed Hong Kong tycoon and democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai said on Thursday they had received anonymous e-mails warning them against travelling to the city to defend him.
A jailed Hong Kong lawyer defies Beijing’s campaign to subjugate the city
It was just after sunrise when the police came for Chow Hang-tung.
The table in the room where she was working was strewn with documents as she prepared a bail application for a fellow pro-democracy activist. The 37-year-old barrister had pulled an all-nighter in her Hong Kong chambers on the 34th floor of the Bank of America Tower, where she liked to fuel herself with Japanese instant noodles and cups of instant coffee.
Suddenly, there was a loud rattling at the chambers’ glass doors. Chow tapped the Facebook app on her phone and began live-streaming. Someone kept ringing the doorbell and trying to input a security code. “It looks like they’ve really decided to take action today,” she said with a short laugh.
Source：Reuters #Nov10
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/china-lawyers-crackdown-hongkong
#ChowHangTung #NSL #Lawyer
It was just after sunrise when the police came for Chow Hang-tung.
The table in the room where she was working was strewn with documents as she prepared a bail application for a fellow pro-democracy activist. The 37-year-old barrister had pulled an all-nighter in her Hong Kong chambers on the 34th floor of the Bank of America Tower, where she liked to fuel herself with Japanese instant noodles and cups of instant coffee.
Suddenly, there was a loud rattling at the chambers’ glass doors. Chow tapped the Facebook app on her phone and began live-streaming. Someone kept ringing the doorbell and trying to input a security code. “It looks like they’ve really decided to take action today,” she said with a short laugh.
Source：Reuters #Nov10
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/china-lawyers-crackdown-hongkong
#ChowHangTung #NSL #Lawyer
Beijing gives Hong Kong leader power to bar foreign lawyers after loss at top court
China’s top lawmaking body gave Hong Kong leader John Lee the power on Friday to bar foreign lawyers from national security trials, removing the decision from the city’s courts.
Critics said the decision created a “dual state” in Hong Kong’s justice system and turned its national security committee, controlled by top Hong Kong and Beijing officials, into an “omnipotent authority” that could overthrow any national security rulings.
Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, and sometimes violent, pro-democracy protests rocked the city a year earlier.
Source: HKFP #Dec30
#Beijing #HongKong #Foreign #Lawyer #Court
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/12/30/beijing-gives-hong-kong-leader-power-to-bar-foreign-lawyers-after-loss-at-top-court/
China’s top lawmaking body gave Hong Kong leader John Lee the power on Friday to bar foreign lawyers from national security trials, removing the decision from the city’s courts.
Critics said the decision created a “dual state” in Hong Kong’s justice system and turned its national security committee, controlled by top Hong Kong and Beijing officials, into an “omnipotent authority” that could overthrow any national security rulings.
Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, and sometimes violent, pro-democracy protests rocked the city a year earlier.
Source: HKFP #Dec30
#Beijing #HongKong #Foreign #Lawyer #Court
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/12/30/beijing-gives-hong-kong-leader-power-to-bar-foreign-lawyers-after-loss-at-top-court/