Justice minister should defend judiciary against media attacks, says Hong Kong Bar Association
Hong Kong’s professional body of barristers has asked the Secretary for Justice to defend the city’s courts, after pro-Beijing media launched one scathing attack after another over the release of Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai on bail.
In a letter on Monday, the Hong Kong Bar Association said that the Beijing-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao published reports and opinion pieces which would inevitably be “perceived by the public as means to exert pressure on the judiciary.”
Lai was bailed last Wednesday under strict conditions, including house arrest and a speech ban. Newspapers loyal to Beijing later criticized judge Alex Lee’s decision to grant bail, saying that it was tantamount to “offering Lai protection.”
People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of China’s Communist Party, also issued a veiled threat by saying that China should take over jurisdiction of the case, in which Lai was charged with land use fraud and collusion with foreign forces to jeopardize national security.
The barristers’ group said in response to the bad press that Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng should “take appropriate action and come forward to staunchly defend the independence of the judiciary.”
“The Hong Kong Bar Association and the public expect no less at this critical moment in the development of [Hong Kong],” it said.
Ta Kung Pao on Tuesday continued harping on Lee’s decision, saying in an editorial that the city’s national security law had an “overriding status” and must be obeyed “unconditionally” by members of the judiciary.
“Denying bail is the rule, granting bail is the exception,” the newspaper said, adding that the decision of bail “is not entirely up to the judges.”
Association vice chair Anita Yip told Apple Daily in her personal capacity that the text of the national security law did not rule out the possibility of bail. Judges could grant bail if they believed that the defendant would not continue to commit acts endangering national security.
Cheng’s Department of Justice had not yet answered the association’s letter, Yip added.
In a reply to Apple Daily, the department said that Lai’s case was ongoing and declined to comment on the attacks made by the pro-Beijing media. The department would take follow-up action as appropriate and necessary for any conduct that might constitute contempt of court, a spokesperson said.
Lai is due to appear in the Court of Final Appeal on Thursday as the department has filed an appeal against his bail.
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