Since the implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, not only is freedom of speech being lost, but judicial independence is also facing a crisis. Recently, it was announced that the first case involving the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, the “Tang Yingjie case”, will be heard in the High Court of Hong Kong without a jury, breaking the jury system that has been used in the Hong Kong judiciary for more than 100 years. In response, the defendant, Tang Ying-kit, decided to file a judicial review with the High Court.
A group of protesters take a break outside the Hong Kong High Court on June 21, 2019. (PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)
The case of Hong Kong’s first Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, Tang Ying-kit, has been scheduled for trial at the High Court on June 23, with only three judges scheduled to hear the case together without a jury, Radio Free Asia reported. The defendant, Tang Ying-kit, has challenged the decision not to have a jury and has filed a judicial review with the High Court.
The legal team defending Tang Ying-Chieh told the media that the jury system was set up to protect the criminal law from tyranny in a fair and impartial manner. But now the Department of Justice’s decision deprives the defendant of the rights guaranteed by the Basic Law and common law, and does not give the defendant a chance to argue his case. According to information on the official website of the Hong Kong judiciary, the case has been heard by Justice Lee Yun-teng, a designated judge of the High Court on national security law, and is expected to take one day, with the application for leave to review combined with the main trial.
The report said Tang, 23, is charged with “inciting others to secede from the state” and “terrorist activities,” and will be heard by three national security judges, Du Li Bing, Peng Bao Qin and Chen Jiaxin.
In addition, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department rejected the application of former Democratic Party Chairman Hu Zhiwei, who was remanded in custody for the “primary election case”, to mourn for his father on May 7, allowing Hu to “visit the remains” through electronic devices in the form of video.
A statement issued by the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department on May 5 said that the time and place of the funeral service for Wu’s father had been widely reported by social media earlier, and some people on the Internet called for support on the day of the funeral service, security assessed that it was difficult to protect the safety of correctional officers, inmates and the public, and therefore denied the application.
The Democratic Party responded publicly on the same day that Hu Zhiwei is the only son of the Hu family, and after learning of his father’s critical illness in early April, he intended to apply to visit him in the hospital, but in the end, he was unable to see his father one last time, for which he “has been deeply saddened. Therefore, the Democratic Party will do its best to communicate with the Correctional Services Department, hoping that the department will reconsider and allow Hu to apply for a short visit to see off his father.
In an interview with Radio Free Asia, Democratic Party representative Deng Huiqiang said that the CSD’s proposal to send staff to the scene, through electronic devices to allow Hu Zhiwei “to see the remains”, Hu Zhiwei and his family is really difficult to accept, think it is disrespectful to the deceased, so they refused the arrangement.
Deng Huiqiang also revealed that Hu Zhiwei in communication with the Department, has expressed willingness to cooperate with the Department of any arrangements, including wearing prison clothes, lock handcuffs, shorten the time out, etc., but ultimately failed to get approval.
Recent Comments