Justice minister Teresa Cheng rejects Hong Kong protesters’ demands not to charge those arrested over June 12 clashes

Cheng, appearing at appointment ceremony for four new Senior Counsel, says government prosecutions are based on law and relevant facts

Secretary for Justice also reiterates apology for government’s handling of extradition bill, which she previously made in blog post on Friday

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Police officers fire tear gas at anti-extradition bill protesters in Hong Kong on June 12. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 2:08pm, 22 Jun 2019Updated: 3:37pm, 22 Jun 2019

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah on Saturday rejected protesters’ demands to not charge their comrades who took part in clashes during an anti-extradition bill protest last week.

Cheng was the first government official to appear in public since a 15-hour siege of the city’s police headquarters ended in the small hours of Saturday with police vowing a “stringent follow-up” on protesters’ actions. She also reiterated in person her apology for the poor handling of the government’s contentious plans to amend the law.

Speaking on the sidelines of an appointment ceremony for senior barristers, Cheng said: “When the Department of Justice presses charges, it is based on the law, relevant facts and our prosecution rules.

“As a member of the government, I offer my most sincere apology,” she added, acknowledging that the administration had handled the bill poorly, sparking division among the public.

She did not respond to the question of whether she would step down over the poor handling of the bill.

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