Seems to have been undergoing ‘maintenance’. A few things in the news…
The Court of Appeal dismisses the government’s latest attempt to prevent Jimmy Lai from having an overseas barrister in his upcoming NatSec trial. This looks like the Justice Dept’s last chance. But someone seems to be very keen to make sure Lai does not use KC Tim Owen. Will Beijing directly override the judges’ decision? Or at least issue some sort of ‘interpretation’ that bars foreign lawyers from defending persons accused of future NatSec offenses?
(Samuel Bickett’s thread on why the authorities have been so determined to keep Owen away from the case.)
Just as we thought it might be dying down, rugby Anthem-Gate becomes a HK Police Organized Crime and Triad Bureau investigation…
Members of the Hong Kong Rugby Union on Monday were interviewed by police, and records of the group’s communications seized…
…[police are] also investigating whether the incidents constituted breaches of the National Anthem Ordinance, the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance or any of the city’s other laws.
The cops also separately make an arrest over the anthem outrage-horror – not for playing the wrong tune at a Korean stadium, but for reposting a video of the incident with a comment thanking the games’ organizers, which counts as ‘incitement’.
The SCMP on Beijing’s Covid dilemma. As well as a practical challenge in terms of health-care capacity, there’s a major problem with public perceptions…
…every step China now takes to coexist with the virus, such as ending mandatory PCR tests, will fly in the face of its own words. The logic is simple: if the state has been insisting that the measures are necessary to protect peoples’ health, then how can the measures be abruptly recalled?
…the state never informed its people that Covid-19 had evolved into variants that were much milder, but more contagious … If Chinese were told six months ago that humans can coexist with Covid-19 and that the country has to search for a way out, the current relaxations would have gone smoother.
Instead, China doubled down a one-sided propaganda campaign to enhance perceptions that the virus was “a deadly threat to everyone”, offering advice to “stay away from the virus whatever the cost”. These perceptions are so deeply entrenched that it will be a big challenge to undo them.
Slowly proceeding with Kevin Carrico’s book…
“…investigating whether the incidents constituted breaches of the National Anthem Ordinance, the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance or any of the city’s other laws.” When cops go flailing around trying to find a law that fits the perceived offence, you could start suspecting it’s not much of a crime.
So I’m guessing HKPopo will only be receiving invites to future law enforcement “summits” and “exchanges” from places like PRC, NorKo, El Salvador, Emirates, Saudi and Russia?
Not that any police force in western, “enlightened” countries have anything to stand on to brag about…
The growing number of sentences being deferred does not appear to be attracting sufficient debate. The latest is the decision to defer sentencing of the 6 Apple executives found guilty until after the Jimmy Lai trial.
Surely each case should be tried and sentenced expeditiously and on its own merits?
JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
The implications of this trend is that sentencing could be delayed for an indefinite period and the accused could have more serious considerations applied to their eventual sentences.
Does deferring sentences have a legal basis? I can only find reference to this in relation to youth crimes when the sentence is deferred to allow time to pursue alternative rehabilitation measures. As we are in a Common Law jurisdiction the UK guidelines would be relevant.
https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/explanatory-material/magistrates-court/item/deferred-sentences/
“PRC, NorKo, El Salvador, Emirates, Saudi and Russia?”
Don’t forget Qatar and Saudi Arabia
@Mary Melville
Good point. Yet another tactic in the new HK Police State’s repertoire of repression.
@Mark Bradley: Yes, Saudi was included and I tried to cover most bases in the sandbox with “Emirates”. Thanks though 😉
Re deferred sentences, that some of these defendants will testify in the Jimmy Lai trial raises the question of a presumption of pressure on witnesses in that trial. No wonder DoJ is trying to eliminate international expertise.
@Mary Melville
The point you make is valid if one were discussing a legal system based on fairness and logic. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case in Hong Kong.
As a practical matter, the authorities are going to lock these people up for years, with the full complicity of the courts, no matter what.
As such, keeping them in stir for another six months or even another year doesn’t really matter, and everyone involved knows it.
Indeed, the accused may be better off, as prisoners on remand can see more visitors more frequently, and living conditions on remand are better than in prison, generally speaking.