'Biased Critics Should Keep Noses Out Of HK Affairs'

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung on Sunday used his blog to rail against both local and overseas critics of the mass arrests earlier this month of 15 prominent pro-democracy figures over unauthorised assembly charges, calling their accusations “biased and unreasonable.”

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai, along with internationally-known pro-democracy figures such as Martin Lee, Albert Ho, Yeung Sum, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Margaret Ng were among those arrested in connection with a number of mass anti-government protests between August and October last year.

The United States and Britain condemned the arrests, as did local pan-democrats who called the action an attack on the rule of law.

But Cheung defended the arrests, saying he noted that both local and foreign politicians had made “biased and unreasonable allegations”.

He said the investigation of all the cases, and the decision to prosecute were all conducted in full accordance with the law, and anyone – including foreign governments and lawmakers – should not interfere in Hong Kong affairs, or the work of the Department of Justice.

His comments were echoed by the Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng, who in her own blog stressed that local prosecutors work independently and are not affected by politics, or any kind of pressure.

"It becomes interesting when overseas media and politicians embark upon allegations or purported demands relating to Hong Kong’s prosecutorial decisions," Cheng wrote.

“The [Department of Justice] acts independently without political, improper or undue influence including those from public opinions and certainly not from overseas politicians who made these requests possibly not based on evidence or law but on political motives”, she added.

Cheng said it is ‘plainly wrong’ to label any prosecutions as ‘politicised’, and said no tycoon or politicians are above the law, and they wouldn’t be treated any differently no matter what goals or beliefs they are fighting for.

“If we are to accede or be seen to yield to unreasonable demands to drop charges irresponsibly, we would not only be unfair and unprofessional but would also act in violation of the spirit of the rule of law”, the justice chief said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary again hit out at pro-democracy lawmakers over the months-long deadlock in Legco's House Committee, saying filibustering legislators just want to cause trouble rather than do anything constructive.

Cheung said it was clear some lawmakers wanted to hinder governance, and thereby waste public resources.