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Stuart Lau

The new chairman of the Law Society sent a clear warning to those attempting to interfere with the courts’ operations but shied away from commenting on the legality of advocating independence for Hong Kong.
Meeting the press for the first time after being chosen to lead the solicitors’ body last week, Thomas So Shiu-tsung struck a cautious tone on judicial independence shortly after the city’s chief justice warned of unprecedented ­political and social challenges ­facing the judiciary.
“I have 100 per cent confidence in the courts handling cases in a fair manner,” So said. “The courts should not be embroiled in interference.”
Any dissatisfaction with court rulings should be channelled through established mechanisms like lodging appeals, he added.
So’s comment came weeks after Zhang Dejiang, China’s third-highest-ranking leader, visited the city and urged the ­judiciary and local authorities to apply the law fairly.
Zhang also lambasted calls for Hong Kong’s independence.
But So, who said he was not a criminal lawyer, refused to say whether calls to sever ties with the mainland breached any laws in the city.
“The law enforcement ­agencies and Department of ­Justice are studying the legal problems,” he said. “I’ll leave it to them to decide.”


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Hong Kong national security law: school clerk, student remanded over conspiring to create leaflets advocating independence

Hong Kong localism and independence

New law society head ‘100pc’ confident in Hong Kong courts but silent on whether advocating city’s independence is legal

So was chosen to lead the local solicitors’ body last week. Photo: David Wong

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

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