Hong Kong’s government has passed a law that allows authorities to ban foreign lawyers from working on national security cases, completing a months-long effort to block a UK lawyer from defending media mogul and activist Jimmy Lai.
The amendment, which was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council on Thursday, gives the chief executive the power to veto any foreign lawyer from working on cases brought under the 2020 National Security Law ., was first arrested in August 2020. He has since been charged with foreign collusion under the sweeping NSL, after calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and China over their crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. If convicted he could face life in prison.
Soon afterwards, Beijing declared that courts needed approval from the chief executive to allow foreign lawyers on national security cases. Wednesday’s amendment enshrines that interpretation in Hong Kong law, and adds to mounting concern over the independence of Hong Kong’s once vaunted judiciary. Previous changes have given the chief executive the power to appoint judges to oversee national security trials, which are not guaranteed to be heard in front of a jury.
Lai’s trial is set to begin in late September, by which time he will have spent almost 1,000 days in jail. He was initially held on remand, but is now serving successive terms for convictions related to the 2019 protests and business fraud, all charges his supporters say are politically motivated.will begin a hearing on Thursday, examining the erosion of the rule of law in Hong Kong. It is expected to explore cases of political prisoners, the arrest of Lai, and international advocacy.
“It’s very sad to see a democratic government being afraid – or asking permission, even – to speak on behalf of one of its citizens that is in prison for freedom of speech,” said the younger Lai. “It’s just ridiculous.”