Lawyers speak volumes in silent rally
There were no placards, no rhythmic chants or clashes with the police. Instead, Hong Kong's lawyers hoped a dignified silence would highlight their fears for the rule of law as they took to the streets last night.
About 850 people took part, more than 550 of them from the legal profession, according to organisers with the Article 45 Concern Group. Police later put the number of marchers at 500.
They were protesting against the imminent interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People's Congress Standing Committee over the length of tenure of the next chief executive.
Alan Leong Kah-kit of the Article 45 Concern Group said the march was an important expression of concern over the damage the interpretation would do to the city's 'one country, two systems' principle and rule of law.
Dressed in black, barristers, solicitors, law students and members of the public marched from the High Court in Admiralty to the Court of Final Appeal in Central.
Prominent lawyers taking part included Johannes Chan, dean of the University of Hong Kong's law faculty, Michael Blanchflower SC, former Bar Association chairman Edward Chan King-sang SC and Denis Chang Khen-lee SC. But current Bar Association chairman Philip Dykes SC and Law Society president Michael Lintern-Smith did not take part.
It is the second time since the handover that the legal fraternity has protested against an interpretation of the Basic Law. In a 1999 protest, more than 600 lawyers and law students marched to oppose the Standing Committee's reinterpretation of the Basic Law, overturning a Court of Final Appeal ruling on the right of abode issue.
This time lawyers were joined by members of the public in what the group described as a show of solidarity.
The interpretation is widely regarded as a pre-emptive move to ensure no court action can derail the July 10 election.
Group member Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said after the march that more interpretations might come in the future, but added: 'I think it's important not to give up hope, not to feel that it is really routine and there's nothing we can do.'
Johannes Chan said he was happy that law students had joined the march to express their concerns.
