Hong Kong court rejects claim that judge might be prejudiced by police report seen in earlier trial
- High Court rejects application by defendant Chow Hang-tung for judge Anna Lai Yuen-kee to step down from her trial for incitement to subversion
The High Court ruled that Madam Justice Anna Lai Yuen-kee’s earlier contact with classified police information connected to Chow Hang-tung’s case would not influence her judgment.
The court rejected the “speculative and unsubstantiated” contention that Lai would be “subconsciously biased” against Chow because she had read a police report in which it was alleged serious but unjustified allegations of foreign collusion involving the alliance were made.
Justices Alex Lee Wan-tang, Johnny Chan Jong-herng and Lai said they had “full confidence” the defendants could receive a fair trial before them.
“The members of this court will abide by, and act in accordance with, the judicial oath, adjudicate the case based solely on the law and the evidence without being influenced by any internal or external pressure attempting to interfere with the court’s judgment,” they said in a 23-page ruling.