The Law Society of Hong Kong held its annual general meeting on the 24th of this month and re-elected 5 directors. If all the pro-democratic parties advertised as "enlightened" take 5 seats, they will have the leading power of the Law Society.
The mainland official media "People's Daily" published a commentary last Friday (13th), saying that standing on the side of the rule of law is the consciousness that the Hong Kong Law Society should have. The Law Society should be responsible for its members and choose to engage in professionalism instead of politics; it is responsible to the public. , Choose to engage in construction rather than destruction.
The civil society in Hong Kong has recently experienced huge turbulence. The two old-fashioned democratic groups, the Education Association and the Chinese People's Front, have lost political pressure and announced their dissolution.
The Bar Association has "severed diplomatic ties" with Beijing in recent years. The state media has made high-profile comments on the re-election of the Law Society. The outside world is concerned about whether professional organizations will be targeted in the next wave.
If the "professional school" loses the lawyers, the days may change
The Law Society’s council consists of 20 people. Last year, the “enlightened” candidates were re-elected by the Law Society’s directors. 4 of the 5 seats were won, including Lin Yanghong, Peng Haoxin, Cai Yingde and Huang Yaochu, as well as the original director Zhang Daming , Di Limai, Bai Lede, Luo Changnan, 8 people are regarded as pro-"enlightened faction."
This year's re-election of the Law Society involves 5 seats, including two seats from Brad and Luo Changnan, which will be contested by 11 people.
The five-member list of Huang Qiaoxin, headed by the current directors, is considered a pro-organizational "professional school"; as for the pro-enlightened school, Wei Hengli and Ma Xiuwen have publicly expressed their candidacy, while Bai Lede and Luo Zhangnan Has also signed up for re-election.
In addition, the political stance of Li Fang and Tang Weilun, who reported that they have no faction, is not obvious.
In short, if the "professionals" lose all and the "enlightened" four win all, and the winning "centre" cooperates with the "enlightened", the latter will have a majority of 11 seats in the board of directors.
The post of president of the Law Society was elected by 20 council members. The current president, Peng Yunxi, was elected for the third time last year. According to the constitution, he must retreat from the line after this re-election.
If the "enlightened faction" accounts for the majority of the council members, the position of chairman may "change."
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Pro-democracy groups have been hit hard one after another, two lawyer groups are in danger
The “People’s Daily” recently mentioned that whether the Hong Kong Law Society can use the opportunity of re-election to keep pace with the times, maintain its professional positioning, play a constructive role, and make a difference in maintaining the overall stability of Hong Kong’s society is related to its own survival. Development is also related to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
The article pointed out that the Law Society plays an important role in the rule of law in Hong Kong, and it is its obligation to defend the spirit of the rule of law in Hong Kong. The rise and fall of the rule of law in Hong Kong is more directly related to its own rise and fall. This is an important reason why the Law Society is considered to have not degenerated into a "politicized group."
The article also mentioned that the Bar Association has chosen to become a "politicized group" through "politicized elections". It has become a "cross-street rat" in Hong Kong, warning the Bar Association not to follow in the footsteps of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
Compared with the Educational Association and the Chinese People's Front, the two major bodies in the legal profession, the Law Society and the Bar Association, are slightly different in nature. Both are statutory bodies and have substantial industry supervision and licensing powers.
The Bar Association has repeatedly issued remarks that are contrary to the political stance of the Central Government and the SAR government. It is now regarded by the state media as a thorn in the eye. Chairman Xia Boyi, who has proposed to amend the National Security Law, has been criticized by name by the Liaison Office.
In the past six months, some establishments have begun to launch a public opinion offensive, demanding that the Bar Association’s supervision power be revoked. In addition, the CPA’s power was cut by the government earlier, and other professional organizations are also afraid of facing the same fate. Controversy over regulatory power.
Since the enactment of the "Hong Kong District National Security Law", civil society has faced a major blow. Many pro-democratic non-governmental organizations and trade unions have been disbanded, and the democratic groups have almost been unable to fight back.
For this reason, the outside world is concerned about whether the SAR government will take advantage of the momentum to withdraw the supervision power of the two legal bodies once the Law Society "changes".
Liu Zhaojia.
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Liu Zhaojia: Professionals have a role in stabilizing society, the central government does not want to deal with it directly if not necessary
Liu Zhaojia, vice president of the National Society for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, pointed out that the definition of "civil society" should first be clarified. In the Western context, civil society refers to some non-governmental organizations that are independent of the government and exist between the government and the people, reflecting the differences among the people. The demands of the government are biased towards the interests of the private sector and play the role of supervising the government.
However, in the past period of time, organizations such as the Educational Association and the Chinese People's Democratic Front have engaged in illegal activities against China and disrupted Hong Kong, and did not respect the national constitutional order. Under the new constitutional order of the post-National Security Law, they should no longer be regarded as citizens. A member of society.
Speaking of the prospects of the two legal organizations, Liu Zhaojia pointed out that the central government’s attitude towards the two organizations is obviously different. The Bar Association is almost anti-China and anti-Communist, constantly challenging the central government’s power under the framework of one country, two systems and the Basic Law. Protests against it; the Law Society has always been relatively stable and practical, and can play the function of stabilizing Hong Kong society and promoting the rule of law, but from the perspective of recent months, it has the opportunity to be manipulated by some radical forces in the eyes of the central government. Persuade", did not say what the next step is, "Of course the Central Government hopes that the lawyers will have insight into the changes in the political situation, know what to advance and retreat, and do not become another bar association. Even if this is a warning, it is a warning with room for it."
Liu Zhaojia mentioned that the two major professions of doctors and lawyers are different from other professions in society. They are regarded as supporting the elite of society and play a role in stabilizing the society. Industry groups (referring to the Medical Council, the Law Society, and the Bar Association) also enjoy other specialties. The statutory supervision power that the organization does not have is also an important target of government policy consultation. Therefore, I believe that the central government does not want to directly deal with them unless it is necessary. Hong Kong's international image must always be taken into consideration.
However, Liu pointed out: "If they dare to be an enemy of the central government, they believe that they will suffer greater losses than other groups."
People in the legal profession: re-election is about the survival of the Law Society and should not care about colors
Ma Yue, associate professor of the Department of Politics and Administration at the Chinese University of China, pointed out that the Law Society and the Bar Association have industry regulatory powers. In the past, the two have been relatively careful in their speeches and have low chances of breaking the law. Therefore, it is estimated that there is no chance of banning them from a legal perspective. Big.
As for the next batch of objects to be "purged", Ma Yue thinks it is difficult to estimate.
Some in the legal profession believe that the "People's Daily" comment on the election of the Hong Kong Law Society has itself been "politicized." People who only talk about political issues and have political party background enter the council.
The person described that this election involves the existence and death of the 114-year-old Law Society, and the Law Society’s supervision power may be withdrawn, including the ability to elect judges and issue licenses to lawyers, hoping that colleagues in the industry "vote professionally, regardless of color." .
People’s Daily: The Law Society should be professional, not political, and should not follow the Bar Association’s footsteps, the People’s Front should be dissolved | : In 2003, I was a victim who criticized the government for kneeling down and affecting governance
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