Infections in legal cluster grow to four

Two more lawyers returning from a business trip in Britain with two infected colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the legal cluster to four people.

Mayer Brown JSM said all three of its Hong Kong lawyers who went to Britain for an arbitration case were infected.

It said there are two new cases along with 50-year-old co-partner Hasofer Menachem Mendel, who earlier tested positive during his two-week home isolation after returning on March 18.

The law firm did not reveal the two new patients' identities.

In a reply to The Standard's e-mail, Mayer Brown's public relations manager Bernadette Tio said: "We can confirm that all three of our Hong Kong-based colleagues [whose identity cannot be revealed for privacy reasons] who recently returned to Hong Kong together from an overseas business trip have unfortunately tested positive.

She added that all of them had gone into self-quarantine as part of company policy, meaning that all three had no physical contact with colleagues "for more than three weeks."

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, said at least two members of a party of six on the trip were infected.

The Standard reported yesterday that senior counsel Ian Pennicott, 61, of Des Voeux Chambers in Central, was infected and in isolation at his British residence. Pennicott was representing Mayer Brown in an arbitration case, together with Mendel in London last month.

Separately, the Judiciary said it is not be feasible to establish a special court to handle unrest-related cases but will consider extending court hours and arranging hearings on Saturdays amid the courts' suspension.

"It may not be practicable to set up a dedicated court to handle all cases," the Judiciary wrote in reply to the Finance Committee, adding that a special court would not be the "most expeditious way" to handle the rising case numbers.

The Judiciary will also consider scheduling cases at suitable court premises such as West Kowloon Law Courts Building as well as setting a stricter procedural timetable.

It may also recommission the Tsuen Wan Law Courts Building, which shut down after court operations relocated to the West Kowloon building in 2016.

Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung said last month that about 7,700 were arrested in anti-fugitive protests.

Police are also investigating the arrests of 43 civil servants, the Civil Service Bureau said.

The bureau said disciplinary punishments - including verbal or written warning, reprimand, reduction in rank, compulsory retirement and dismissal - will be imposed on any convicted civil servants.

justin.tong@singtaonewscorp.com