Hong Kong’s rule of law is “more robust and enduring than the outcome of any single case”, the city’s chief justice has declared after former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was found guilty in a landmark national security case that drew international scrutiny and criticism.
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung on Monday also warned that any calls for the early release of a defendant based on his occupation or political causes were a strike against the city’s rule of law, and that any threat of sanctions against judges had “absolutely no place in a civilised society”.
In his speech at a ceremony to mark the opening of the legal year, Cheung noted that Lai’s high-profile trial had drawn significant international attention and commentary, including expected criticism of the courts and the city’s rule of law amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“Many of us may be forgiven for growing weary of simplistic assertions that the rule of law is dead whenever a court reaches a result one finds unpalatable,” Cheung said.
“The rule of law in Hong Kong is far more robust and enduring than the outcome of any single case. It cannot be that the rule of law is alive one day, dead the next, and resurrected on the third, depending on whether the Government or another party happens to prevail in court on a particular day.”
While fully respecting the right of individuals to express their views on court rulings, he urged the public to read the judgment on the Jimmy Lai case carefully and understand its reasoning before offering comments or criticism.
