Hong Kong leader issues warning to territory’s top legal body

27/04/21

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says gov’t could intervene in Bar Association after its chief criticised jailing of pro-democracy activists.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned that the government could intervene in the Bar Association, the territory’s top legal body after its chief criticised the jailing of pro-democracy politicians earlier this month.

On Sunday, China’s representative office in Hong Kong labelled Bar Chairman Paul Harris an “anti-China politician” after he spoke out against the jailing of the activists and politicians.

Speaking at her weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Lam said that while Hong Kong respects freedom of expression, there are limits.

“For the time being, I do not see the case for any government intervention into the affairs of the Hong Kong Bar Association,” Lam said.

“But, of course, if there are instances or complaints about the bar not acting in accordance with the Hong Kong law, then, of course, the government would be called into action.”

Harris had questioned the custodial sentences given to media tycoon Jimmy Lai and others for taking part in an unauthorised assembly during anti-government demonstrations in 2019 and also defended the right to peaceful protests.

Harris had argued that peaceful demonstrations remain legal in the city and that such demonstrations serve as a channel for people to express their grievances. Earlier this year, he had also called for amendments in national security law, which China imposed on Hong Kong in June last year.

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/27/carrie-lam-warns-of-intervention-in-hong-kong-bars-affairs

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/27/beijing-calls-hong-kong-bar-association-chief-an-anti-china-politician

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1587895-20210427.htm

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/27/WS60876612a31024ad0baba947.html

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1587636-20210425.htm

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3131025/beijings-top-office-hong-kong-ramps-attack-bar-association?utm_source=Twitter

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/04/26/beijing-attacks-head-of-hong-kong-bar-assoc-over-politicised-comments-on-peaceful-protest/

RT @Quicktake "Hong Kong respects and safeguards the individual rights and freedoms…But this is not an absolute right."

HK leader Carrie Lam says the government will not take any action against the Bar Association’s Chairman Paul Harris after his #Hon… pic.twitter.com/3gCTQWa6Jg

— Keynode's TechTalk (@_techtalkng) April 27, 2021

馮煒光：這是對夏博義和大律師公會的最後警告！Fung Wai-kwong：This is the last #warning to #PaulHarris & HK #BarAssociation！#夏博義 #大律師公會 #HongKong #HKSAR https://t.co/DRz7T2drHa 来自 @YouTube

— BeijingEye (@BeijingEye) April 27, 2021

HK Bar Association urged to split with its current chairman Paul Harrishttps://t.co/NvI7rHiIk7

大律師公會政治化屢挑戰中央　法律界促與夏博義割席 pic.twitter.com/bnrAUe7fjP

— DotDotNews (@DotDotNews1) April 27, 2021

A legal professional called on the HKBA to sever ties with Paul Harris to restore its professionalism, while residents protested against Harris' slander. #HK #law

For full story: https://t.co/dv6rOdZ79C pic.twitter.com/x0cLX05ls1

— China Daily Hong Kong (@CDHKedition) April 27, 2021

Petition action against Paul Harris, chairman of HKBA. He must step down to save the public confidence on HKBA's integrity.

Sign up here:https://t.co/pZZ3cQivc2 pic.twitter.com/7zyHKBjIdU

— PolitiHK Social Strategic (@PolitihkS) April 26, 2021

Tagged: China, Hong Kong