Rafael Hui corruption trial: the multimillion-dollar clash of legal titans
The corruption trial labelled the highest-profile in Hong Kong's post-colonial history could be unparalleled in the dominance of some of the biggest names on the British Bar.
The courts may be used to sparring matches, but the corruption trial labelled the highest-profile in Hong Kong's post-colonial history could be unparalleled in the dominance of some of the biggest names on the British Bar.
The most prestigious rank of lawyers, known as the Queen's Counsel, formed the pillars of legal teams from the prosecution and three defendants from Sun Hung Kai Properties: co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen and executive director Thomas Chan Kui-yuen.
Audiences in the open court had front-row seats to the grilling of defendants and witnesses, particularly by David Perry QC, who led the prosecution team and spoke most of all the barristers.
Not only did he call more than 50 witnesses, he also spent a great deal of time questioning Thomas Kwok, Chan and former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan, the three defendants who took the witness stand.
Taking on Hui, Perry did not mince his words.
"Do you think, looking back, that you were a person who can be trusted as chief secretary with integrity?" he asked.