Need we say more…
- Chief judge of the High Court had earlier approved barrister Timothy Owen’s participation in light of ‘clear’ public interest
- Jimmy Lai, 74, is set to go on trial before panel of three High Court judges on Thursday
Hong Kong’s leader has asked Beijing to interpret the city’s national security law after the top court upheld a decision allowing a British barrister to defend media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying against charges of collusion with foreign forces.
The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also weighed in on the ruling on Monday, saying the court decision had violated “the legislative spirit and legal logic” of the national security law. Beijing’s national security office in the city also backed Lee’s move.
Hours after the ruling by the Court of Final Appeal, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the secretary for justice would seek an adjournment of Lai’s national security trial, which is set to begin on Thursday.
