Hong Kong slams so-called legal team for ‘smears’ over Jimmy Lai custody conditions
Government also says ‘actual’ representatives for Lai had clarified so-called international legal team had not received instructions to act on his behalf
The government on Sunday accused the legal team of “spreading misinformation”. It also said representatives for Lai had clarified that the team had not received instructions to act on his behalf.
“We noticed the so-called international legal team has repeatedly distorted the truth, blatantly discredited the judicial system and trials of [Hong Kong], and fabricated information about the treatment provided to [Lai] during his custody,” the government said.
“This behaviour is completely contrary to the professional ethics that legal practitioners should uphold.”
A spokesman said such actions were “shocking”, arguing the alleged international legal team had misled the UN and abused its procedures.
Lai is currently incarcerated in the maximum-security Stanley Prison and is expected to take the witness stand to defend himself against foreign collusion and sedition charges on Wednesday.
Last Friday, the team released a statement through British law firm Doughty Street Chambers saying the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had found Lai was being “unlawfully and arbitrarily detained”, and called for his immediate release.
