Bar Association and Law Society issue statements following Jimmy Lai's verdict

已複製連結

Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai was convicted on all three charges yesterday, including violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and colluding with foreign forces, and will be sentenced at a later date.

Both the Bar Association and the Law Society issued statements on the issue.

The Hong Kong Bar Association said as a matter of principle, the HKBA will not comment on individual cases especially when litigants may exercise their rights of appeal. 

As the current case is the first decided case of Collusion with a Foreign Country or with External Elements to Endanger National Security under the Hong Kong National Security Law, it is of significant importance to the development of Hong Kong's unique jurisprudence under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. 

It said the trial process is fully transparent. All litigants are entitled to the right of appeal as is appropriate. 

The HKBA said it is confident that the Hong Kong Judiciary will continue to operate independently, apolitically and will not be affected by any external influence or external interference. 

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Law Society issued a statement expressing deep regret over some media outlets' commentary on the trial and conviction as a "sham trial."

The Law Society added that the Jimmy Lai case, in accordance with Article 46 of the National Security Law, was tried in open court by a three-judge panel of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. No legal representative of either party claimed to have been treated unfairly.