Hong Kong Bar Association chief has ‘no intention’ of stepping down amid firestorm of criticism from city’s pro-Beijing camp

Paul Harris SC, attacked over past comments and his membership of Britain’s Liberal Democrats, tells Post he is ‘determined to see it through’

The lawyer has also come in for criticism from Beijing’s representatives in the city over his views on the national security law

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Paul Harris, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, tells the Post he has no intention of stepping down despite recent criticism. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 4:18pm, 11 Feb 2021Updated: 4:56pm, 11 Feb 2021

The Hong Kong Bar Association’s embattled chairman has no intention of stepping down from his post, he told the Post on Thursday, despite a recent wave of criticism from the city’s pro-establishment camp over his past remarks and current affiliation with the British Liberal Democrats.

Paul Harris SC said the attacks on his political affiliation were “an attempt to distract people from current concerns about erosion of freedom in Hong Kong”.

“I have no intention of resigning as chairman of the Bar. I was reluctant to take up the job but was persuaded to do so by colleagues who thought that my experience of constitutional and human rights issues was particularly useful at the present time,” he said a written reply to a Post inquiry.

I have a track record for working hard and getting things done and I intend to keep it up

Paul Harris SC, Hong Kong Bar Association chairman

Prominent barristers in the pro-establishment bloc on Wednesday urged the association’s governing council to decide if Harris should remain as chairman after it emerged he was a Liberal Democrat and had only stepped down as an elected councillor of the Oxford City Council before his election.

They said Harris’ party membership was problematic given the soured relationship between the government and Britain.

London has been in the government’s cross hairs since it created a new pathway to citizenship for millions of Hongkongers eligible for British National (Overseas) status due to its concerns with the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Paul Harris’ views on the new national security law has drawn the attention of Beijing’s official arms in Hong Kong. Photo: Sun Yeung

In retaliation, Hong Kong announced that BN(O) passports could no longer be used for travel, later adding that banks would no longer accept them as identification either.