#Judiciary
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges