National security law: Ex-Bar Association chairman leaves Hong Kong for UK after meeting with police
- Paul Harris flew out for the United Kingdom by way of Turkey at around 11pm on Tuesday, hours after giving a statement under caution to national security police
- He had been called in for a meeting at police headquarters where he was asked to explain acts that had allegedly violated the national security law
Former Hong Kong Bar Association chairman Paul Harris left the city on Tuesday night, hours after he was asked to explain acts that had allegedly violated the national security law in a meeting with police.
The Post has learned that the senior counsel flew to Turkey at about 11pm en route to the United Kingdom.
His departure came less than 12 hours after he attended an interview with officers from the National Security Department at police headquarters in Wan Chai. He left the premises at about 1.30pm on Tuesday.
A police source on Tuesday said Harris, a British citizen, had been called in to “assist with an investigation”, and was asked to explain acts that had allegedly violated the national security law. He was allowed to leave after giving a statement under caution to police.
Hong Kong Bar’s ex-chief meets national security police to ‘assist with investigation’
The source said part of the police investigation was related to the NGO Human Rights Monitor, which Harris founded in 1995. The veteran barrister set up the group two years after he moved to Hong Kong and set up his local practice.
Another source familiar with the matter said some of the allegations were related to a book Harris wrote, without going into further details.
In 2007, the barrister wrote the Right to Demonstrate, a book which used the image of man standing in front of a tank during the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing as its cover picture. It examined peaceful protests around the world and touched on the crackdown.
The Post has also learned that there was no requirement for Harris to inform police of his movements during the investigation.
Harris confirmed to Reuters in a phone message that he had left the city.
“Yes, on way to see my mother in England,” he told Reuters. The report said Harris declined to answer any further questions.
Multiple sources told the Post that Harris was due to leave for England in March even before he was called in by police, with one saying the barrister had bought a return ticket. Harris could not be reached for comment.
Veteran Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu arrested under national security law
Beijing imposed the national security law in June 2020 to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces – offences that are punishable by life imprisonment.
Soon after he took over at the association, Beijing’s two top agencies overseeing Hong Kong affairs accused him of being an anti-Communist lawyer who challenged the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle.
Beijing’s liaison office in the city later denounced him as an “anti-China politician”, warning his leadership would make a mockery of the Bar Association.
