Two U.K. Supreme Court judges resigned from Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on Wednesday, citing a current crackdown on dissent under a drastic national security law enforced on the city by Beijing.Non-permanent CFA judges Lord Reed and Lord Hodge had actually sat on the court “for many years” under an arrangement governing the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule, Reed stated in a statement.” The judges of the Supreme Court can not continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to back an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression, to which the Justices of the Supreme Court are deeply devoted,” the declaration said.U.K.” The Foreign Secretary supports the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, following conversations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor and the President of the Supreme Court,” said in a short declaration, which was signed by Truss and deputy prime minister Dominic Raab.Ruling Conservative Party rights activist Benedict Rogers, who heads the U.K.-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, said the move was the right one.” The British judges continuous presence was offering a veneer of authenticity for a fundamentally jeopardized system, and the British federal government is right to have actually taken actions to recall them,” he said.The Law Society of Hong Kong, which represents solicitors in the city, called on the judges to reverse their choice.” Several other users commented that the reporter interviewed for the film is currently behind bars, awaiting trial under the national security law.Hong Kongs nationwide security authorities just recently wrote to Benedict Rogers ordering him to take down the groups website, which was highly important of the judgment Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s rights record in Hong Kong.The U.K., along with Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United States have suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong.However, extradition arrangements stay active between Hong Kong and the Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and Sri Lanka, putting anyone traveling to those countries at prospective risk of arrest if they are targeted by the law.The national security law ushered in a citywide crackdown on public dissent and criticism of the authorities that has actually seen several senior reporters, pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and 47 former lawmakers and democracy activists charged with offenses from “collusion with a foreign power” to “subversion.
Two U.K. Supreme Court judges resigned from Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on Wednesday, pointing out a recent crackdown on dissent under an oppressive national security law troubled the city by Beijing.Non-permanent CFA judges Lord Reed and Lord Hodge had actually sat on the court “for many years” under an arrangement governing the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule, Reed said in a statement.” I have actually been closely keeping track of and assessing developments in Hong Kong, in discussion with the federal government,” Reed wrote. “However, since the intro of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020, this position has ended up being progressively carefully well balanced.”” The judges of the Supreme Court can not continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to back an administration which has departed from values of political flexibility, and freedom of expression, to which the Justices of the Supreme Court are deeply dedicated,” the statement said.U.K. foreign secretary Liz Truss said the government supported the choice.” The Foreign Secretary supports the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, following conversations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor and the President of the Supreme Court,” stated in a short statement, which was signed by Truss and deputy prime minister Dominic Raab.Ruling Conservative Party rights activist Benedict Rogers, who heads the U.K.-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, stated the move was the proper one.” Todays news reflects the unfortunate truth that the national security law has actually torn apart the human rights and constitutional safeguards which made Hong Kong meaningfully self-governing,” Rogers stated.” The British judges continuous existence was providing a veneer of authenticity for a basically compromised system, and the British federal government is ideal to have taken steps to remember them,” he said.The Law Society of Hong Kong, which represents solicitors in the city, called on the judges to reverse their decision.” Unfair and unproven accusations … versus the judicial system of Hong Kong have no place in the conversation about rule of law,” president C.M. Chan said in a letter to news editors.” I truly interest the U.K. judges to reverse course.” Hong Kong Chief Justice Andrew Cheung kept in mind the resignations “with regret.”
Guy in white T-shirts with poles are seen in Yuen Long after assaulting anti-extradition expense demonstrators at a train station in Hong Kong, July 22, 2019. Credit: Reuters
Documentary on attacksThe resignations came as web service companies in Hong Kong appeared to have actually obstructed a 30-minute documentary by Vice News on YouTube detailing the involvement of triad criminal gangs in bloody attacks on travelers at the Yuen Long MTR station on July 21, 2019, amidst a mass demonstration movement stimulated by strategies to enable the extradition of supposed criminal suspects to deal with trial in mainland China.The documentary explored in depth the attacks by males wielding sticks and wearing white clothing.” For numerous, the violence was stunning and represented the death of Hong Kongs democracy,” the platform stated in its intro to the video on YouTube.” Several other users commented that the reporter talked to for the film is presently behind bars, awaiting trial under the national security law.Hong Kongs nationwide security cops recently wrote to Benedict Rogers purchasing him to take down the groups site, which was highly crucial of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s rights record in Hong Kong.The U.K., along with Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United States have suspended their extradition contracts with Hong Kong.However, extradition arrangements stay active between Hong Kong and the Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and Sri Lanka, putting anybody taking a trip to those nations at possible danger of arrest if they are targeted by the law.The national security law ushered in a citywide crackdown on public dissent and criticism of the authorities that has seen several senior reporters, pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 47 former legislators and democracy activists charged with offenses from “collusion with a foreign power” to “subversion.
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