Next Media founder Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily’s 3 related companies are accused of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law. Earlier, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal approved Lai’s appointment of Queen’s Counsel Tim Owen from the UK for the trial However, the Department of Justice raised strong objections and appealed again and again, arguing that cases involving national security should not be represented by overseas lawyers.
After being rejected by the Court of Appeal earlier, they will apply directly to the Court of Final Appeal today (25th). Chief Judge Zhang Juneng, Permanent Judges Li Yi and Fok Zhaogang will handle the hearing.
Tim Owen appeared in person at the Court of Final Appeal today.
The defendant Li Zhiying (74 years old), together with Apple Daily Co., Ltd., Apple Daily Printing Co., Ltd. and Apple Daily Internet Co., Ltd., was charged with one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications and one count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
Li was separately charged with two counts of conspiring with Chen Zihua, Mark Simon, Li Yuxuan and others to collude with foreign forces.
The case has been scheduled to start in the High Court on December 1.
The Department of Justice submitted to the Court of Appeal earlier that the Hong Kong National Security Law is to prevent external forces from interfering in Hong Kong affairs. on behalf of Li.
However, the Court of Appeal believes that the Department of Justice has been applying on the grounds that there is no jury trial in this case, not on the grounds of protecting state secrets, and there is no evidence that Tim Owen may violate the confidentiality requirements of Article 63 of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Therefore, the application of the Department of Justice was rejected.
Case number: FAMV 591/2022
Li Zhiying's process of hiring Tim Owen, Queen's Counsel of the United Kingdom.
(See the picture below for details)
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