Hong Kong judge barred from anti-government protest cases after Cultural Revolution remark about demonstrators, sympathising with Lennon Wall knifeman
- Judiciary censures District Judge Kwok Wai-kin over his remarks when jailing a tour guide for stabbing three people at a Lennon Wall
- Kwok likened anti-government protesters to terrorist army and will no longer preside over cases relating to the demonstrations
A Hong Kong judge who compared “Cultural Revolution-like” anti-government protesters to a terrorist army, and expressed sympathy with a defendant he jailed for stabbing three people, has been barred from handling cases relating to the demonstrations.
The rare move was taken by Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau, who will replace Kwok for the high-profile cases at the District Court, where defendants charged with more serious offences such as rioting will be tried.
Without referring specifically to the case, a judiciary spokesman said: “The chief district judge made the relevant arrangement at this stage, as he noted that the reasons for sentence in a particular case presided by His Honour Judge W K Kwok has led to controversial discussions in the community.”
