Students, Staff and Alumni urge the University of Hong Kong to stop reviewing Benny Tai's teaching post as political retaliation

Alumni, current students and staff gathered at Edinburgh Place during lunchhour on Jauary 15, to urge the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) to stop attempting to suspend Benny Tai's teaching post, for his involvement in the 2014 civil disobedience campaign "Occupy Central with Love and Peace".

Source: Now News; Stand News
#Jan15 #BennyTai #Academia #StateTerrorism

#OpinionArticle #TaiYiuTing #BennyTai
What is Rule of Law?

Some says that fighting for a rightful cause through an unlawful mean brings a disastrous impact to the rule of law. If this is the case, the unrestrained power of the police has simply put an end to the rule of law.

After all, the 'rule of law' means more than whether civilians are obeying the law or not; rather, it is about whether those in power can be restrained under the same law where they powers are given.

If those exercising power are not subjected to the law, law is only a tool for the authorities to oppress the people--this has nothing to do with the rule of law.

The real disaster is when some manipulate the law and distort the meaning of the 'rule of law' to achieve their political agendas. As a result, the public can no longer tell what the rule of law really means.

In the past, I never claimed that the 'rule of law' is dead in Hong Kong. Right now, the authorities put themselves above the law. Not only did they refuse to hold accountability for their speeches and actions, they even tried to teach the public a 'lesson' on the rule of law.

When we cannot do anything with a person who evades legal responsibility, then the 'rule of law' is really dead in Hong Kong!

Source: Benny Tai’s Facebook
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18694

#RuleOfLaw #PoliceState

#Interview #TaiYiuting #BennyTai

Rule of Law in Hong Kong: Is it dead these days?

(3 Apr) On 8 March 2020, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Associate Professor, Department of Law, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), announced on Facebook that "the rule of law is dead". Overnight, there was an outcry. After all, there were many times when Tai could have concluded the rule of law is dead in the past decade, yet he never did so.  

//Over the years, the controversies over judiciary independence in Hong Kong have led to an endless debate over whether "the rule of law is dead". Tai making his current statement has been described by some as “finally awakened from his slumber”.//

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Rule-of-Law-in-Hong-Kong-Is-it-dead-these-days-04-24

Source: Stand News

#RuleOfLaw #TaiYiuting #HongKongProtest #Hongkongers

#Analysis #RuleofLaw
Three young lawyers discuss the legal system in Hong Kong

• Three young lawyers expressed their thoughts and opinions on working in the current judicial environment in Hong Kong. They discussed the discrepancy between the public’s expectations from the legal system and the limitations imposed on the courts by the system.

• Although they support or sympathise with the social movement, they are also caught in a position between the public and the traditional legal elites. In the midst of cries that “the rule of law is dead”, these young lawyers seem speechless. They criticise the system, yet they have to work within the system.

• Benny Tai: “If the court does not cooperate with an authoritarian regime, the authoritarian government will set up an alternative legal or political body that it can fully control to deal with political sensitive cases. In order to protect the damage in legal authority, the court can only avoid dealing with politically sensitive issues, thus limiting its power.”

• The rule of law in Hong Kong has not collapsed yet but it does not mean it will not. In reality, it can break easily because there is an invincible external force called the Interpretation of the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC). But Ben and Jerry further pointed out that there is no need for the regime to Interpret the Basic Law or incorporate judges because it has hundreds of other ways to undermine the authority of the judiciary.

Read more:
https://telegra.ph/Diagnosis-for-the-Rule-of-Law---Reflections-of-Three-Young-Lawyers-on-the-System-and-the-People-05-29

#BennyTai #LegalSystem #Lawyer

Benny Tai: No matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age

Dr. Benny Tai, one of the organizers of this weekend's primary election as well as conveners in Occupy Central campaign in 2014, shares his thoughts of the first day of the primary election on Facebook:

"At this moment, my feelings are conflicted.

On one hand, I breathe a sigh of relief. The turnout for the primary election was far larger than I expected. On the other hand, past experience tells me that every time Hongkongers accomplish a miraculous feat, those in power feel gravely threatened. And they will definitely scheme to strike back even harder.

Until the September election, they will suppress Hongkongers in every conceivable manner, and as much revenge on us as they can. We must be mentally prepared.

Again, from past experience, every 'high' in our movement would be followed by a period of lows, but every low builds up energy to push ourselves on to a higher peak, because of the undefeatable resolve that is rooted deep within every Hongkonger. And this is why I believe, no matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age.

For now, let's not think too much. Let's work hard and make this miracle happen!"

Source: Benny Tai's Facebook #Jul11 #BennyTai #PrimaryElection

Primary Election as Lesson of Democracy: "Hongkongers are willing to stand up and practice what they believe to save the city"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23378