-
Stand News “sedition” trial continues, with lack of due process
Patrick Lam and Chung Pui-Kuen, editors of the independent news outlet Stand News, were arrested in December 2021. Their trial for conspiracy to publish “seditious materials” had already taken 36 days by February 2023, exceeding the planned duration of 20 days, and will tentatively take until the end of March. Lack of due process was…
-
“NSL 47” subversion trial commences over democratic primary election
One of the most significant national security trials in the PRC government’s crackdown on Hong Kong began on 6 February 2023. As mandated under the Hong Kong National Security Law (“NSL”), the trial is being heard by three judges from a panel which is handpicked by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. Also, as directed by the…
-
Court spectators jailed for sedition
As responsible lawyers, we read the latest sedition judgment (WKCC 928/2022, 27 Oct 2022) to consider the judge’s legal analysis before expressing outrage. Spoiler: there is only oppression charading as law. Note first off this case was in the lowest courts, the magistracy. Magistrate Cheng Nim-chi isn’t known for being a bright legal mind –…
-
Signing away the freedom of the press
This judgment yet again affirms that with the national security law, all common law or statutory protections of rights and freedoms that we have always known go out the window.
-
Apple Daily trial: expeditious when it suits
Apple Daily executives’ national security trial for “conspiring to collude with foreign forces” and sedition is fixed for this December. The judges claimed the trial should be heard expeditiously – but this reeks of hypocrisy.
-
The 818 Protest and Trial
Today marks 3 years since over a million Hong Kongers took to the streets in the pouring rain to protest police brutality and government impunity. The trial that ensued was also one of the most significant (and eventful) to come out of the 2019 protests. By this time, the 5 demands had crystallized. On 721,…
-
UNHRC Concluding Observations
The UNHRC has strong words for Hong Kong’s failure to comply with international human rights obligations. The concluding observations are concrete and specific, including calling for the National Security Law to be repealed.
-
Rule by decree, as endorsed by the courts
This judgment by the Hong Kong top court, including a former UK Law Lord, enabled the latest emergency regulation (Cap 241N) whereby the Chief Secretary can bypass ANY statutory requirements.
-
Arrests for Sedition – for Applause in Court
The sedition law is again used as a catch-all to crack down on freedom of speech. At first, it caught calls for violence or independence; then critics of the police; then criticism of the judiciary; then criticism of covid policy.