#Newspaper

Fifth anniversary of 709 Crackdown puts Hong Kong national security law in the spotlight, Chinese and Hong Kong lawyers concerned about future "Hong Kong version 709"

(8 Jul) The fifth anniversary of the "709 Crackdown" in mainland China is approaching. Currently in political asylum in the US, Chinese human rights lawyer, Chen Jiangang, had handled the cases of Xie Yang, Li Heping, Wang Quanzhang and Jiang Tianyong in the 709 incident. Chen was prohibited from leaving China until last year when he was threatened for handling the case of Zhou Yongkang's daughter-in-law, Fiona Huang. He and his family fled to the US that same year in July. Chen pointed out that the Hong Kong national security law should not be viewed from a legal perspective as it is intrinsically not a law. Rather, it represents that "the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can openly push their authority on Hong Kong. This is in their nature."

//the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law was like "sticking a knife" into more than 100 years of Common Law practice and changing it beyond recognition.

//self-censorship is already occurring in Hong Kong. He is concerned that a "'Hong Kong version' of 709 Crackdown may follow."

//under President Xi Jinping, the Administrative Procedure Law and the State Compensation Law were left stranded.

//During the pandemic, the CCP tightly monitored the family members of those deceased from the virus, "If five or more family members of the deceased interacted with each other, they had to be caught."

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Fifth-anniversary-of-709-Crackdown-puts-Hong-Kong-national-security-law-in-the-spotlight-Chinese-and-Hong-Kong-lawyers-concerned-07-17

Source: Mingpao
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#709MassArrest #Lawyer #RuleOfLaw #NationalSecurityLaw #Coronavirus

Sad but true. // #ccp #china #lawyer #prison #ruleoflaw #english #diyms

British Law Firm Being Sanctioned and Responded on China's Stupidity: Independent Practitioners Can Have Different Views as Clients and Colleagues

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction nine personnel and four entities, including British Essex Court Chambers. The chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and Head of Cloisters Human Rights Practice Group, Schona Jolly, described the sanctions from China are “maladroit”, as lawyers are work in the same office but are all independent and might not agree with the views of clients and colleagues. She reiterated that China should accept the independent investigation by the international society on Xinjiang human rights problems instead of engaging “the diplomatic tactics”.

Schona Jolly also indicated that according to The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers defined by the United Nations, lawyers' professional work should not be intimidated by sanctions and should not be implicated by clients. She stated that the sanctions to the whole lawyer office from China are “maladroit” as they work at the same office but are independent and self-employed practitioners, not necessarily sharing their professional points of views with other colleagues and clients. China sanctions the whole structure (i.e. the whole office) will only reflect their misunderstanding on the British law professional operations and the independence of lawyers.

Source: Stand News #Mar28

https://bit.ly/3cRJ1gd

#China #England #Sanctions #UnitedNations #Lawyer #Independence #InternationalSociety #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Diplomatic

#UK #CCPThreat
MI5 accuses lawyer of trying to influence politicians on behalf of China

An unprecedented security warning from MI5 was circulated to MPs and peers on Thursday that accused a lawyer, Christine Lee, of seeking to improperly influence parliamentarians on behalf of China’s ruling Communist party.

It is the first time that MI5 has issued an “interference alert” relating to China and concerns a high-profile Anglo-Chinese lawyer who received an award from Theresa May and who has donated £584,177 to the office of Labour MP and former shadow cabinet member Barry Gardiner.

The alert names and pictures Christine Ching Kui Lee, who has allegedly “knowingly engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist party”.

It added that the UFWD was “seeking to covertly interfere in UK politics through establishing links with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum” and to “cultivate relationships with influential figures”.

Read the full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/13/chinese-national-trying-to-improperly-influence-politicians-says-mi5

Source: Guardian #Jan13

#SecurityBreach #Espionage #Lawyer