Political situation
Written by: Chen Chuolan
2021-06-04 16:40
Last update date: 2021-06-04 18:46
Following yesterday’s article on the attack on Falun Gong, Liang Zhenying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former chief executive, posted on Facebook today (4th), questioning the source of Falun Gong’s legal fees, citing reports that Falun Gong was funded by legal aid and the lawyer is the current chairman of the Bar Association. Xia Boyi and "Chow Hang Tung" have the same English names as Stake Vice Chairman Zou Xingtong.
Liang Zhenying pointed out that the Falun Gong case had been fought for 8 years and asked the Legal Aid Department to be honest, "How much is the legal aid funded lawyer's fees? How many went into the pockets of Xia Boyi and Zou Xingtong?"
In response to the inquiry, the Legal Aid Department stated that, due to the restrictions on the disclosure of information under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and the Legal Aid Ordinance, the Department cannot disclose any information without the consent of the relevant person/subject.
The case originated in 2013. In accordance with Article 104 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, the FEHD confiscated 130 banners and 484 display panels at 26 Falun Gong propaganda locations throughout Hong Kong, and prosecuted 2 Falun Gong practitioners.
Following a judicial review of Falun Gong, the court won the case in the Court of First Instance in 2018, and the Court of Appeal changed the government's verdict in 2019.
In May of this year, Falun Gong applied to the Court of Final Appeal for permission to appeal and was rejected on the spot.
Liang Zhenying pointed out that the case went through three stages of preliminary trial, appeal and final trial and lasted for 8 years. "How much legal aid funded attorney fees? How many went into the pockets of Xia Boyi and Zou Xingtong? Why did it last for 8 years? How much time did it take? Is Falun Gong procrastinating in order to extend their continued display of exhibits on government land as far as possible? Legal aid must be open and honest. Members of the Legislative Council have the right to question the Legal Aid Office, and the Audit Commission must also intervene."
Liang Zhenying questioned that after the National Security Law came into effect, "If the Legal Aid Department really continues to fund Falun Gong in lawsuits, has it considered the nature of Falun Gong as an organization that violates the National Security Law?"
The Legal Aid Department held the opening ceremony of the 50th anniversary exhibition earlier.
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Legal Aid Department: Cannot disclose without the consent of the person concerned
The Legal Aid Department responded that the goal of the legal aid policy is to ensure that all persons who comply with the provisions of the Legal Aid Ordinance and who have reasonable grounds to bring litigation or defense in Hong Kong courts will not be unable to seek justice due to lack of financial means. To obtain legal aid, one must pass both the means test and the merits test as stipulated in the "Legal Aid Ordinance".
According to the Department, due to the restrictions on the disclosure of information under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and the Legal Aid Ordinance, the Department cannot disclose any information about the case without the consent of the relevant person/subject.
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