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Overseas lawyers banned from working on national security cases without government approval
On 10 May 2023, the Hong Kong legislature passed a law which bars overseas lawyers from working on national security cases unless they receive permission from the government. This is yet another instance where the Hong Kong government, after losing its case in court, sought the intervention of Beijing by making an “interpretation” of the law –…
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Tiananmen activists convicted in a sham trial for refusing to divulge information to police
In another weaponised legal action against the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (which was well-known for organizing the annual vigils to mark the Tiananmen Square massacre, before being forced to disband in 2021), three members of the group were convicted and sentenced to four and a half months in jail in March 2023 for refusing…
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NPCSC issues NSL interpretation, allowing Hong Kong government to control overseas lawyers’ involvement in national security trials
On 30 December 2022, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (“NPCSC”) issued its first interpretation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (“NSL”). The interpretation declares that, for national security cases, the Hong Kong courts must seek a certificate from the Hong Kong Chief Executive (“CE“) before allowing an overseas lawyer to represent a defendant;…