HONG KONG (Reuters) – A British prosecutor appointed by the Hong Kong government to lead a case against democracy activists withdrew after coming under pressure in Britain, including ‘scandalous’ remarks by the foreign minister cases, city officials said Wednesday.
David Perry, a Queen’s Counsel, would lead the case against tabloid media mogul Jimmy Lai and several others, including veteran Democratic activists Martin Lee and Margaret Ng.
But the Hong Kong Department of Justice notes that Perry has’ increased pressure and criticism ‘in Britain for addressing the issue, adding in a statement that he is’ concerned about such pressure and the release of quarantine’ and ‘ indicated that the trial should proceed without him. “.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in an interview with Sky TV on Sunday that Perry had given the Chinese government a ‘PR coup’ and that he was behaving in a ‘nice mercenary way’.
Teresa Cheng, Secretary of Justice in Hong Kong, confirmed the details and objected that such comments were directed at a ‘very formidable’ lawyer.
“The fact that such a very high-ranking official uttered words like ‘mercenary’ is disgracefully disrespectful to such a reliable lawyer,” Cheng said.
Perry could not be immediately reached for comment. A lawyer in Hong Kong has been appointed in his place, Cheng said.
In the Hong Kong-based independent legal system in Hong Kong, foreign jurists are sometimes used by the defense and prosecution in parties.
Lai (73) owns the Apple Daily – which has a reputation for being fiercely critical of the city government.
Broadcaster RTHK is linked to protests in August 2019, according to Perry, but Lai has also been charged with violations under the city’s new law on national security, which has sparked foreign condemnation.
He is the highest profile accused under the law Beijing imposed on the city on June 30 last year after months of pro-democracy protests in the global financial center.
The law provides for severe punishment for terrorism, undermining and conspiracy with foreign powers, while allowing some suspects to take to mainland China in complicated cases.
Critics say the law threatens rumors of judicial independence in the former British colony.
(Reporting by Greg Torode and Sharon Tam; editing by Robert Birsel)