An illegal immigrant seeking bail in the High Court has been deemed such a security risk that not even his lawyers can be fully informed of the case against him.
The secrecy surrounding the man's case is so great that a judge yesterday asked the secretary for justice for a list of lawyers with security clearance so the defendant - identified only as PV - could be represented.
The unusual request, believed to be a first for Hong Kong, came as Justice Michael Hartmann expressed concern that he was allowed access to some documents that the defendant and his counsel could not see.
PV, whose age and nationality were not released, has been in custody for the past 14 months for immigration offences.
He is in the process of launching a judicial review of a removal order but has asked the Court of First Instance for bail.
But the government has opposed bail citing PV as a 'security risk to Hong Kong'.