Letters | Double standards still rule in Hong Kong, as outrage over QC’s exit shows

If People’s Daily’s commentary on the decision to grant Jimmy Lai bail was freedom of speech, so was Dominic Raab’s criticism of David Perry QC’s decision to take up high-profile Hong Kong activists’ case

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Published: 6:25am, 28 Jan 2021Updated: 6:25am, 28 Jan 2021

While I agree with the fundamental premise of your editorial of January 21, “Unfair pressure on top British barrister”, namely that Hong Kong’s legal system should not be politicised, in the current instance the government doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah was outraged at the withdrawal of British Queen’s Counsel David Perry from his appointment to lead the prosecution case against nine high-profile members of the community, including several with long and distinguished track records as lawmakers and social activists (“London attacks on barrister in Jimmy Lai case ‘disgraceful’: Hong Kong justice chief”, January 20).

Her reaction demonstrated, yet again, how double standards increasingly prevail at the upper levels of our government.

Back on December 27, the People’s Daily launched a disgraceful attack on the decision by a justice of the High Court to grant bail to Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. Mrs Cheng remained tight-lipped, despite representations from local legal professionals urging her to defend the city’s judiciary against accusations levelled by state media.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor batted away concerns over this blatant interference with Hong Kong’s judicial process by describing the editorial as no more than the exercise of free speech.

It is therefore a bit much for Mrs Cheng now to lambast British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s exercise of his right to free speech, by voicing his strong distaste for Mr Perry’s decision to take up the case.