HK justice secretary slams UK criticism of prosecutor choice

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah on Wednesday said she was appalled and shocked by the "unfair and unfounded attack" from the United Kingdom against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's Department of Justice (DoJ) decision to hire David Perry, a prominent British counsel for a local court case.

Speaking to reporters at the Legislative Council, Cheng said this will allow the public to see clearly the existential pressure that the foreign powers are exerting on the city and Hong Kong should exercise all efforts to combat such pressure.

Cheng's remarks came after the department announced its decision to switch its leading prosecutor after Perry recused himself from the case, citing concerns over such pressure and the exemption of quarantine.

Perry was invited to lead the prosecution on an unlawful assembly case from August 2019 that involves nine people, some of them leading figures in the opposition camp such as founder of Apple Daily Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. The 10-day hearing is set to begin on Feb 16.

In light of the public interest involved and the imminent trial date, the DoJ has instructed another counsel to prosecute the trial as scheduled, the department said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

Cheng said the new counsel is local and will not be disclosed according to department convention.

The department will control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference, as stipulated in the Basic Law Article 63, and firmly, fairly and fearlessly handle prosecution, given the pressure it has faced owing to the high-profile of the case, Cheng said.