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No meddling in HK courts: CE

August 21, 2017

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has rebutted claims of political interference in Hong Kong's courts, saying the Judiciary's independence is vital for the city's prosperity and stability.

 

She made the statement today amid concerns about the Court of Appeal cases involving 13 people taking part in an unlawful assembly outside the Legislative Council building in 2014, and the case involving Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow storming "Civic Square" the same year.

 

Mrs Lam said: "Under Basic Law (Article) 85, our courts are exercising judicial powers independently, free from any interference. So any allegation that in these particular cases that judges in the Court of Appeal have made decisions under political interference are totally unfounded.

 

"There is absolutely no political interference both in the prosecution, in the review of sentence and in the judgments and rulings handed down by the Court of Appeal."

 

She said the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people are protected under the Basic Law.

 

"But the exercise of these rights and freedoms, as noted by the court, is not without limit. They have, first of all, to be law abiding. So in these two cases, what we are dealing with, are not political persecutions or persecutions on the basis of expression of views, but they are unlawful acts, or even acts involving violence."

 

She said the rule of law is essential for the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" and the continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

 

"Under Basic Law (Article) 63, prosecution decisions are made by the Department of Justice without any interference. So any allegation that the Secretary for Justice himself or the Department of Justice have made decisions to review the sentences on political grounds are totally unfounded."



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