Open court, detailed ruling in Jimmy Lai trial ‘prove Hong Kong rule of law strong’
Lawyers urge members of public to study the court’s judgment before drawing conclusions after Western countries hit out at Lai verdict
Lawyers, including the Hong Kong Bar Association, on Tuesday urged members of the public to respect the city’s judicial process and study the High Court’s judgment carefully before drawing conclusions after several Western countries criticised Lai’s guilty verdict, prompting a strong rebuke from the government.
A panel of three judges, who were hand-picked by the city’s leader to adjudicate national security cases, found Lai guilty on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print seditious articles.
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Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai found guilty on all charges in national security trial
The verdict drew immediate criticism from several Western countries. Britain called the prosecution “politically motivated”, while the European Union said the ruling was “emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong”.