Pro-Beijing politician’s attack on Hong Kong judges as ‘sinners of society’ earns stiff rebuke from leader Carrie Lam
Chief executive says such comments deal a blow to the city’s judicial system, and that her response has nothing to do with political stance
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was responding to Stanley Ng Chau-pei, a local delegate to the national legislature, who labelled five Court of Final Appeal judges “killers of young people” in a Facebook post.
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Lam described insults and personal attacks against judges as “regrettable”.
“It is not the first time I am [making such remarks] here, and that has nothing to do with one’s political stance,” she said.
“It is unacceptable for people to make inappropriate comments over court decisions, to vilify the judges in contempt of court, or even to launch personal attacks against a particular judge because they are unhappy with the judgment.”
It is unacceptable for people to make inappropriate comments over court decisions
Such acts dealt a blow to the spirit of the city’s judiciary, including its system, she added.
The remarks by Ng, who heads the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, stemmed from the top court’s decision last Friday to free the 13 activists, who had each received jail sentences of up to 13 months from a lower court for unlawful assembly after an “extremely violent” protest outside the Legislative Council complex on June 13, 2014.
The judges endorsed new sentencing guidelines calling for stiffer punishments for violent, unlawful assemblies but questioned the lower court’s decision to use a 15-month jail term as the starting point for sentencing. The defendants were freed on the grounds that they had suffered a grave injustice.
Activists freed by highest court on grounds they suffered a grave injustice
In two separate posts on his Facebook page last Friday and on Monday, Ng blasted the top court judges for freeing the activists.
“How could this be an act of loving and protecting young people? [The judges] are killing them!” the National People’s Congress delegate said.
How could this be an act of loving and protecting young people? [The judges] are killing them!
“These criminals are definitely not going to repent, and this will set off a ticking time bomb in society.”
The court’s decision would “poison” a generation, Ng claimed, accusing the judges of being “the killers of young people” and “sinners of society”.
Ng defended his remarks on Monday after his post drew criticism from pan-democrats, insisting he had the right to point out mistakes made by judges.
He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but left a message on his Facebook page accusing some media of misquoting him.
This is not the first time the government has warned against attacks on the city’s courts and judges.
The department said such comments – even on social media – could undermine the city’s judicial independence and constituted contempt of court.
