Bar Association and Law Society issued statements on Jimmy Lai's guilty verdict
發佈日期: 2025-12-16 22:27
TVB News
Former media tycoon Jimmy Lai was convicted on all three charges in his landmark trial yesterday, including violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and colluding with foreign forces.
The DAB party and the Federation of Trade Unions today protested against the reaction of foreign governments.
This as both the Bar Association and the Law Society issued statements following his conviction.
The landmark national security trial of Jimmy Lai drew to a close yesterday with the former media mogul having been convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications.
The Hong Kong Bar Association said in a statement that the Jimmy Lai 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 added that it is of significant importance to the development of Hong Kong's unique jurisprudence under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
The HKBA further said the trial was held in open court and that the process was fully transparent, adding that all litigants are entitled to the right of appeal as is appropriate.
The Bar Association said it is confident that the Hong Kong Judiciary will continue to operate independently and apolitically, and will not be affected by any external influence or interference.
The Law Society of Hong Kong 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.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong submitted a petition at the U.S. Consulate General, criticising Washington and a number of Western countries for slandering Hong Kong's judiciary.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions staged a protest outside the British Consulate General, calling out British authorities for its defence of Jimmy Lai and his national security crimes.
