Junius Ho facing disciplinary hearing by British legal body over remarks suggesting Hong Kong independence advocates should be killed ‘mercilessly’
- The lawmaker and pro-Beijing firebrand, who is no stranger to controversy, made the remarks while on stage at a rally in 2017
- Ho, who is licensed to practise law in England and Wales, could be removed from the British register depending on the outcome of the hearing
Outspoken pro-Beijing Hong Kong lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu is facing a disciplinary hearing by the regulatory body of Britain’s legal profession over controversial comments he made during a rally three years ago in which he suggested pro-independence elements should be killed “mercilessly”.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority, a lawyers’ regulatory body in Britain, where Ho is also qualified as a lawyer, has announced it is pursuing the case and a hearing is to be held before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
At the centre of the case are comments the 58-year-old legislator and lawyer made during a rally he co-organised in 2017 that called for the sacking of then-University of Hong Kong law lecturer Benny Tai Yiu-ting for his role in the 2014 Occupy Central protests.
Ho claimed Tai had promoted “lawbreaking under the name of civil disobedience”, bringing about a rise in calls for Hong Kong independence.
Tai was sacked by the university in July this year over criminal convictions for his role in the Occupy movement.