CE denounces unfounded attacks on HK judiciary during UK visit

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor responded forcefully to politicians and commentators in the United Kingdom who made groundless criticisms about Hong Kong’s judicial system and its judges.

The CE said such comments were “extremely disturbing”, “unfair” and also “disrespectful”.

Lam stressed that Hong Kong was still based on its core values — including the rule of law, an independent judiciary and a strong legal-aid system. These ensured citizens had access to justice, as well as freedoms and rights guaranteed under the Basic Law.

The CE spoke at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Annual Dinner in London on Wednesday evening. It is her first trip to Europe since she assumed office as chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR on July 1.

Her remarks follow comments this week by Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last governor before its return to China.

Patten accused the Department of Justice of jeopardizing the city’s world-recognized reputation for the rule of law by seeking sentence reviews on three radical student activists — Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Alex Chow Yong-kang.

Patten is in Hong Kong this week; he made these comments during a speech on Tuesday.

The Court of Appeal sentenced the three activists on Aug 17 to jail terms of six to eight months for their roles in a violent protest on the eve of the illegal “Occupy” movement in 2014. The sentences came after Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung filed a sentence review of their previous non-custodial sentences.

Lam’s remarks in Britain also come after a group of 25 foreign politicians and activists, including a former British foreign secretary, criticized the sentences of the activists.

In closing her speech in London on Wednesday evening, Lam said the new Hong Kong government would spare no effort in ensuring the city reached new heights.

She also urged people to speak up for Hong Kong when the city is being unfairly attacked.

Inside