Press Release
28 June 2022
The 29 Principles submits a joint report to the UN Human Rights Committee on the situation in Hong Kong
In view of the UN Human Rights Committee's examination of the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (‘ICCPR’) in Hong Kong this coming July, The 29 Principles and Lawyers for Lawyers have submitted a joint report to the Committee to raise their concern over the deterioration of the rule of law and the increasing intimidation and harassment towards lawyers in Hong Kong.
The report highlights several important issues about the situation of lawyers over recent years, including the incompatibility of the national security law with the ICCPR and how it affects lawyers and legal groups; reform of the legal aid system depriving the aided persons of their rights to choose their own lawyers; political interference in the Law Society election; as well as harassment and intimidation of lawyers.
Notably, the recent arrest of the trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, one of whom is a barrister, and the complaint against lawyers lodged by the national security police thereafter are also commented on in the report.
It will be the first review of Hong Kong’s human rights situation conducted by the UN Human Rights Committee after the adoption of the draconian national security law and the inauguration of the new government cabinet. We hope that the Committee will include the following recommendations to the Hong Kong Government in its Concluding Observations :
Take measures to prevent the harassment and intimidation of lawyers.
Guarantee the right of all persons to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice.
Ensure the decisions and judgements made by the courts will not be affected by political interference.
Ensure that the Bar Association and the Law Society in Hong Kong can operate without any political interference and express their views without fear of reprisals.
The full report is now available at https://bit.ly/3MACl4q.