Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing administration has criticized a pan-Asian lawyers’ group for slamming the city’s repressive national security law and HK$ 1 million (US$ 128,117) bounty on exiled pro-democracy politicians and activists.
In a press statement on Aug. 1, the Hong Kong government said it condemns the concerns of Law Association of Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) as “groundless attacks and slandering,” Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) reported on Aug. 2.
An unnamed government spokesperson “solemnly” urged the group to “stop being manipulated by people with ulterior motives.”
The official also urged the group to “immediately refrain from wantonly slandering and smearing the [National Security Law] and the implementation of the Law in the HKSAR.”
LAWASIA is a regional association of lawyers, judges, jurists, and legal organizations, which advocates for the interests and concerns of the Asia-Pacific legal profession.
The reaction from Hong Kong authorities came after the legal group on July 31 had raised concerns over the bounty and the language used by Chief Executive John Lee against the democrats.
The legal group had stated that the language used by Lee “should be avoided at all costs.”
Earlier on July 11, Chief Executive John Lee had urged Hong Kongers to treat the exiled democrats as “street rats” after the national security police announced HKD 1 million bounty on each of them.
Lee had stated that “everyone should treat them [the democrats] as street rats and avoid [them] at all costs.”
The legal group pointed out that the comments from Lee would put the democrats’ life in danger.
“Such language may lead to the incitement of violence against these persons, including the lawyers,” the group said.
The eight self-exiled democrats charged with posing a threat to national security are Dennis Kwok, Kevin Yam, ex-lawmakers Ted Hui, Nathan Law, and activists Anna Kwok, Elmer Yuen, Mung Siu-tat, and Finn Lau.
The legal group also voiced its concerns over the restrictions placed against lawyers Kevin Yam and Dennis Kwok.
The group stated that it was concerned “that professional restrictions have been sought to be imposed on these lawyers, by Hong Kong’s Secretary of Justice’s complaint to the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association.”
https://www.ucanews.com/news/lawyers-body-draws-ire-for-criticizing-bounty-on-hk-democrats/102173
