CE Plays Down State Media Attacks On Judiciary

The chief executive on Tuesday played down concerns over recent attacks by mainland state media on the High Court judge who granted bail to national security suspect Jimmy Lai, saying it's a matter of free speech.

"If there are people who want to express a view based on their understanding of the law, the facts and evidence, then this is what the media always advocate, this is freedom of speech," Carrie Lam told reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.

"I really would not see how these comments would put pressure on the judiciary," she continued, adding that every judge has taken a judicial oath and would not be intimidated or undermined by such comments when discharging their duties.

Lam said she herself, as well as the secretary for justice, have repeatedly made public statements urging people to respect the judiciary, uphold judicial independence, not to criticise judges for their decisions without any grounds, and to condemn personal attacks on judges.

The Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily, had described Justice Alex Lee's decision to put Lai under house arrest as "drastically hurting" the rule of law.

The Department of Justice later appealed against the bail decision, convincing the Court of Final Appeal to remand the Apple Daily founder back in custody.

The media tycoon is accused of collusion with foreign forces and fraud.