Li Zhiying has been detained for nearly 2 years for violating the National Security Law.

(Associated Press file photo)

[Compile Sun Yuqing/Comprehensive Report] Li Zhiying, the founder of Hong Kong Next Media, was accused of violating the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and has been detained for nearly 2 years. The case was originally scheduled to start trial on the 1st of this month, but the Hong Kong government opposed Li Zhiying's hiring The barrister defended him and further requested the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China to interpret the law.

In this regard, Hong Kong People's Congress representative Tam Yiu-chung said on the 4th that it is unreasonable for overseas lawyers to participate in the national security law case. If there is no local lawyer to take over, it may be transferred to China for trial.

Jimmy Lai was accused by the Hong Kong government of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law of "conspiracy with foreign forces" and "collusion with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security". He had originally hired British barrister Tim Owen (Tim Owen) to defend him. The Department of Justice of the government objected, and successively appealed to the Hong Kong High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Final Appeal. After repeated defeats, the Court of Final Appeal approved Li's employment of Owen on the 28th of last month.

Chief Executive Lee Ka-chao announced on the same day that he would request the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to interpret the law to determine whether overseas lawyers or barristers who do not have full local professional qualifications can participate in and handle national security law cases.

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In response to the interpretation of the law by the National People's Congress, the Li case has been approved by the court to be postponed to the 13th of this month.

Tam Yaozong, a member of the Hong Kong People's Congress Standing Committee, stated on the Hong Kong TVB TV program "Speaking Clearly" on the 4th that foreign lawyers are not allowed to represent the defendant in the defense, which is in line with the spirit and logic of the National Security Law.

When asked how the Hong Kong government would handle the case if there were no local practicing lawyers willing to take over the case, Tam said that it could be transferred to China for trial, and the relevant mechanism has been written into the law, which will not cause injustice to the defendant.

Later on the same day, Tan emphasized that his speech was only a "hypothesis" and that national security law cases could only be transferred by the National Security Agency to China for trial under special circumstances, including foreign or foreign forces involved, Hong Kong's inability to effectively implement the national security law, and national security problems. Major real threats, etc. As for whether the Li case belongs to one of them, it depends on the decision of the National People's Congress.

Tam Yaozong further revealed that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress usually holds a regular meeting at the end of this month, but the date and agenda are still to be determined. It is unclear whether the Hong Kong government will discuss the interpretation of the law.

However, this matter is not complicated. I believe there will be enough time to deal with it, and the scope of explanation will not be too large.

In addition, he also revealed that he has considered whether there are other ways to deal with it. For example, the work visa of the British barrister has expired, and the Hong Kong government's immigration department refuses to continue to issue visas, which may prevent him from appearing in court, but he also admitted that this is only palliative , but cannot cure the root cause.

Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post" quoted sources as saying that given the high profile of Lai's case, the Beijing authorities hoped to minimize the risk and prioritized the trial of the case in Hong Kong.

Another source revealed that Beijing may consider appointing a group of lawyers to represent Hong Kong in national security law cases.

According to reports, Zhang Jianhong, former CEO of Next Media, Chen Peimin, former vice president of Hong Kong Apple Daily, editor-in-chief Luo Weiguang, executive editor-in-chief Lin Wenzong, editor-in-chief Feng Weiguang and Yang Qingqi, etc., all admitted to committing crimes under the "Hong Kong National Security Law" last month. Conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security, conspiracy to publish seditious publications and other crimes are awaiting punishment and sentencing.