Political situation
Written by: Zhai Ruimin
2021-01-20 18:52
Last update date: 2021-01-20 18:52
The Department of Justice has hired the British Queen’s Counsel David Perry to come to Hong Kong earlier to take charge of the case involving illegal assembling by the founder of One Media, Li Zhiying, and the founding chairman of the Democratic Party, Martin Lee. Criticizing David Perry by name, referring to this case makes people feel like "mercenary".
The Department of Justice issued a statement today (20th) stating that due to constant pressure and criticism from the British society, it has decided to appoint another lawyer to handle the case as scheduled.
The guild member and Senior Counsel Tang Jiahua criticized that the British government recently attacked Hong Kong’s judicial system one after another, apparently hoping to weaken the image of Hong Kong’s judicial independence and undermine the rule of law. He denounced the United Kingdom for using political means to pressure Hong Kong judges.
Regarding Lan Taowen's claim that accepting "immoral prosecution" as a "mercenary", Tang Jiahua retorted that according to this logic, British barristers cannot make "immoral defenses" against suspected rapists, murderers, etc. .
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01", Tang Jiahua said that the successive attacks of the British government on the Hong Kong judicial system are "very worthy of condemnation."
He explained that the criticism of David Perry violated the rule of law, because according to the principle of the rule of law, everyone should have the right to be represented by a lawyer and "equal confrontation", that is, both parties to the litigation should be equal in firepower.
Tang Jiahua criticized that the British condemnation of coming to Hong Kong to practice in Hong Kong is entirely because politics overrides the rule of law and has an impact on the Hong Kong judicial system. "I can't see why a country that advocates the rule of law in the United Kingdom has done such inferior behavior."
David Perry has been a favorite of the government since the time of Donald Tsang
When asked whether the Department of Justice needs an external barrister in this case, Tang Jiahua declined to comment, but said that David Perry has been a favorite of the government since the time of former Chief Executive Donald Tsang.
He also mentioned that, in general, local courts do not allow British lawsuits to practise in Hong Kong unless they involve unique cases or specialized knowledge; but this case is only an ordinary crime of illegal assembly, not to mention the "Hong Kong National Security Act". The foreign minister still has to criticize publicly, "it is really shameful."
As for whether the Department of Justice will avoid hiring overseas barristers in the future, Tang Jiahua bluntly said that he was uncomfortable with the British intervention, "I would like to explain the political intimidation to submit.
Tang Jiahua said that the British government's successive attacks on the Hong Kong judicial system are very worthy of condemnation.
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Rong Haien expects the Department of Justice to hire a local expatriate to take over
Rong Haien, a member of the New Democratic Party’s Legislative Council who is a barrister himself, responded that if David Perry continues to be the master, he believes that the case will eventually have an impact on the Department of Justice. "Private acceptance in the UK", but she believes that it will not affect the government's future handling of cases involving democrats, and emphasizes that it depends on each case.
Regarding the Secretary of Justice Zheng Ruohua said that he has hired a local lawyer to handle the case, Rong Haien said that it is still unknown whether the person is a Hong Kong citizen. "If you are a Hong Kong citizen, there will be a lot of pressure and you may be shocked. "It is estimated that the Attorney General may appoint a local practising foreign barrister to handle it.
Will it affect the British Queen’s Chief Executive Officer in Hong Kong? Liao Changjiang: Can’t generalize
Liao Changjiang, the establishment "squad leader" who is a barrister, pointed out that under the framework of the rule of law, both the prosecution and the defense have the right to choose their legal representatives. For high-profile foreign officials criticizing David Perry, he denounced this as political leadership. Talking about the rule of law, the rule of law, sounds so hypocritical."
Will the incident affect the British Queen’s Counsel’s participation in the government’s control in Hong Kong in the future?
Liao Changjiang believes that it is impossible to generalize, saying that there are many Queen's Counsel in the UK, and that if there is a legal system that cannot withstand political pressure, then they can not accept appointments; if they think accepting appointments is a manifestation of the rule of law, they can come to Hong Kong to defend the government.
When meeting with reporters today, Secretary of Justice Zheng Ruohua pointed out that many British media have criticized and pressured David Perry, which is very unfair to him. He also described Lan Taowen's criticism of Perry as "disgraceful."
She also emphasized that the Attorney General has not underestimated the pressure of foreign countries and will do its utmost to resist foreign politicians and other pressure on the Attorney General, and adhere to the independent prosecution power and responsibilities conferred by Article 63 of the Basic Law.
The Department of Justice hires David Perry as the prosecutor, Zheng Ruohua blasts the British for injustice: Don't underestimate foreign pressure
David Perry, a barrister hired in the lawsuit against Li Zhiying, said he was concerned about the substitution of the British pressure attorney general
Li Zhiying and other members of the Department of Justice at the Victoria Park rally appoint the British Queen’s Counsel David Perry as a representative
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Tang Jiahua Department of Justice
