HKU cancels talk by UK lawyer connected to Jimmy Lai

Toby Ng

The University of Hong Kong has canceled a talk by UK lawyer Timothy Owen, who was barred from representing Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in a collusion trial.

The law faculty's website stated the cancellation of a lecture titled Judges, Democracy and the Criminal Law that was originally scheduled for Friday.Owen was to discuss growing threats to judicial independence and the rule of law. Participants also received an e-mail from organizers citing "unforeseen circumstances."

Owen, who is currently in Hong Kong, refused to comment.

Lai had previously applied to appoint Owen to defend him, which ultimately led to the Hong Kong government seeking for the first time an interpretation of the National Security Law from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The law faculty was reportedly under pressure to put the Owen lecture on hold, but it was "not to the point where it could not be held."

The dean of the law faculty, Fu Hualing, also reportedly had urgent matters to attend to and could not find anyone else to host so the school decided to cancel Owen's lecture. Another event with Owen, scheduled to take place in Central, was also canceled this week.

Lai, the founder of Next Digital Limited, is being held on remand under the National Security Law of Hong Kong for allegedly conspiring with foreign forces.

His earlier request for Owen to represent him in his defense was approved and the Department of Justice's two appeals were both rejected.Finally, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued an interpretation of the Hong Kong National Security Law at the end of December last year, stating that overseas lawyers or barristers who do not have full qualifications in Hong Kong should obtain a certificate issued by the chief executive to represent defendants in national security cases.

If the court does not obtain the certificate from the chief executive, the National Security Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will make the judgment and decision.

According to the National Security Law, the decision of the National Security Committee is not subject to judicial review and all institutions and individuals should respect and implement it.

The National Security Committee then recommended that the Immigration Department deny issuing Owen a visa.

In May this year, Lai's appeal against the National Security Committee was dismissed by the High Court.

Boase Cohen & Collins last month said that Owen would deliver its sixth annual criminal law lecture this Friday.

"We are thrilled that Tim has accepted our invitation to deliver this year's Criminal Law Lecture," said Colin Cohen, a senior partner at the firm. "Given his immense standing in the legal world, we are certain his talk will be hugely popular with a large cross-section of the legal profession and the general public."