China’s top legislative body will have to ‘make adjustments’ to Hong Kong national security law if tycoon Jimmy Lai allowed foreign lawyer in trial, veteran politician warns

Tam Yiu-chung, city’s sole delegate to National People’s Congress Standing Committee, issues second and strongest warning ahead of court decision on issue

Court of Final Appeal will give decision on suitability of overseas lawyers to take up cases involving national security law on Monday

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Tam Yiu-chung is Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislative body. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 11:17pm, 26 Nov 2022Updated: 11:21pm, 26 Nov 2022

The city’s sole delegate to China’s top legislative body has warned that it will have to step in to “make adjustments” to the national security law if Hong Kong’s top court upholds a ruling that allows a prominent British barrister to defend media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in his coming trial.

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Saturday gave his second and strongest warning two days ahead of the Court of Final Appeal’s deferred decision on the suitability of overseas lawyers to take up cases involving the Beijing-imposed law.

“The involvement of foreign barristers is absolutely inappropriate. It also breaches the legislative intent of the NPC Standing Committee,” Tam said at an event organised by a pro-Beijing group.

“If the situation is not changed, there is no other way but for the standing committee to interpret the [national security] law and make adjustments.”

Jimmy Lai’s trial starts on Thursday. Photo: SCMP

Tam, who leaves the standing committee in February after five years, was involved in drafting the national security law that took effect in 2020 following the city’s anti-government protests.

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