Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been detained since late 2020, when the Apple Daily publisher was charged with two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under a new national security law imposed by Beijing
The long-awaited national security trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was adjourned Thursday, as officials in the city sought Beijing’s intervention to block Mr. Lai’s choice of lawyer.
This argument was not successful with judges at all levels of Hong Kong’s legal system, with the Court of Final Appeal on Monday dismissing the government’s case. But despite the name, there is a body that can overrule the CFA, the Beijing-based National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which can “interpret” — essentially rewrite — Hong Kong’s de facto constitution, the Basic Law.
The prosecution of Mr. Lai and other executives of Apple Daily, once the city’s most popular and aggressive pro-democracy tabloid, has already raised severe concerns over media freedoms in Hong Kong. Beijing’s intervention in his case will only renew questions over how much rule of law persists in the city, with Mr. Lai already facing a panel of national security judges hand-picked by the Hong Kong government, and denied the right for his case to be heard by a jury.
“Even under normal circumstances, a criminal defender from outside the jurisdiction need not worry as much about burning bridges with the prosecution or with the judge,” said Alvin Cheung, an assistant professor of law at Queen’s University. “They are therefore freer to put forward a robust defence.”
Dr. Lai predicted the government’s insistence on barring Mr. Owen could be a precursor for introducing some kind of list of designated lawyers for national security cases, just as officials control which judges can oversee such hearings.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hong Kong court adjourns trial of tycoon and China critic Jimmy LaiHong Kong court adjourns Jimmy Lai’s trial to Dec. 13
Read more »
Letters Nov. 29: Downtown safety should be a priority; what Victoria can learn from Hong Kong
Read more »
Free speech is on the line in Hong Kong as the national-security trial of newspaper founder Jimmy Lai begins Thursday. What you need to knowThe media tycoon is the founder of Apple Daily, once a popular Chinese-language newspaper, which rose to top-selling popularity for its investigative reporting and criticism of the government and strong prodemocracy stand
Read more »
Jimmy Pattison donates $30 million towards Royal Columbian Hospital's new towerThe B.C. billionaire has a track record of donating to health\u002Dcare infrastructure projects.
Read more »
Overseas Chinese step up protests as calls mount for changeOverseas-based Chinese and their supporters rallied in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and Toronto, with more protests planned in coming days
Read more »
Excitement, defiance for young Chinese in COVID 'tipping point' protestsHONG KONG/BEIJING — When Yang, a Shanghai office worker, saw video clips of a burning building in western China, a disaster in which 10 people were killed, she…
Read more »