bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

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.”


For a better future, Hong Kong’s leaders must study China’s past

Hong Kong’s national security police arrest man with suspected ties to pro-independence group over seditious messages posted online

Hong Kong localist party Civic Passion disbands, pointing to ‘lack of political options’

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

Solicitor Thomas So Shiu-tsung defers to law enforcement agencies and justice department on hot-button issue


Hopes and fears: Zhang Dejiang visits Hong Kong