They needn’t worry about the Law Association it’s been meek, mild and compliant for years now.
The language of the People’s Daily illustrates that the Bar Association might well be one of the few, we’d suggest the last, organisation in Hong Kong that doesn’t play lap dog to the communist party.
We presume Beijing hopes to have them dealt with by December as evidenced by their Stalinist like commentary
“If you endorse the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and abide by the Basic Law, then [the Law Society] will not break all exchanges and cooperation with the mainland and walk on a dead-end path like the Hong Kong Bar Association,” it read.
“The Hong Kong Bar Association has become Hong Kong’s street rat and its failure in Hong Kong is certain.”
The HKFP reports
The Secretary for Justice has urged Hong Kong’s legal societies to “stay professional” and steer clear of politics, one day after China’s People’s Daily blasted the Bar Association as a “street rat” and warned the Law Society representing solicitors not to follow its example.
“Recently, I am aware of views that legal bodies are neither political parties nor political organisations and should therefore strive to maintain their professionalism rather than politicisation. I fully agree,” Secretary Teresa Cheng wrote on her official blog on Monday.
“Our legal professionals should use their expertise to uphold the rule of law and promote legal services, maintaining professionalism as expected by the legal industry and the community.”
The People’s Daily, mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party, earlier called on the Law Society not to become a “politicised group” ahead of a leadership election on August 24 for the body which represents solicitors.
‘Politically neutral’
In an article on Sunday, it warned the body to “draw a clear line” between itself and “anti-China elements” to avoid the fate of the now-defunct Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union.
“If you draw a clear line with anti-China and chaotic Hong Kong elements, then [the Law Society] will not lose the recognition of the Hong Kong government like the [HKPTU], and suddenly collapse,” it said.
The renewed attention by state media on the city’s legal bodies comes after two major pro-democracy groups disbanded last week – the teachers’ union and the main protest group, the Civil Human Rights Front. Both had separately come under increasing pressure from Hong Kong authorities following attacks by Chinese state media.
The article also called on the Law Society to to “keep up with the times” and play a “constructive role” in the city’s future. “To be responsible to its members, it should choose to engage in professionalism rather than politics.”
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