Hong Kong court lifts reporting restriction on national security case
17/08/2022 06:21
By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret
HONG KONG, Aug 17 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court on Wednesday
lifted a reporting restriction on a landmark national security
case involving a now disbanded group that used to organise
candlelight vigils on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square
crackdown.
The decision follows a ruling by High Court judge Alex Lee
this month, overturning a ruling by lower court magistrate Peter
Law who had blocked applications to allow open reporting of
pre-trial proceedings - known as committal hearings.
The lifting of the reporting restrictions was seen as a
breakthrough by some activists. It is the first time reporting
will be allowed for pre-trial hearings for a national security
case in Hong Kong.
The case involves a group called the Hong Kong Alliance in
Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and three of
its former leaders: Lee Cheuk-yan, 65, Chow Hang-tung, 37, and
Albert Ho, 70, who have been charged with inciting subversion of
state power under a China-imposed national security law.
Since the three were arrested and charged last September,
they have been repeatedly denied bail and nothing but basic
details from numerous court hearings have been reported.
Law had previously declined to lift the ban, saying
reporting could put "mental pressure" on witnesses. But Lee
disputed that, saying Law had "erred" in his decision and that
reporting should be allowed in the interests of "open justice".
In lifting the restriction, Law dismissed arguments from the
prosecutor that some of the hearings should still be subject to
closed-door restrictions, including a preliminary inquiry.
The Alliance disbanded last September after the arrests of
its leaders and a freeze on its assets.
Authorities in the former British colony have taken steps in
recent years to prevent commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen
crackdown in Beijing, most recently citing COVID-19 precautions.
(Editing by Robert Birsel)
((james.pomfret@thomsonreuters.com; +852-28436390; Reuters
Messaging: james.pomfret.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))