Jimmy Lai Security Trial Put Back To September 2023

The national security trial of Jimmy Lai has been adjourned until September 25, 2023, pending a possible ruling by Beijing which could ban the British barrister he has chosen from representing him in the case.

The trial - postponed for a second time - is expected to last 40 days.

Chief Executive John Lee last month asked the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) to clarify whether under the national security law, overseas lawyers without full qualifications in the SAR can take part in national security cases.

The request was made shortly after Hong Kong's top court refused to hear an appeal brought by the government which could have blocked the admission of King’s Counsel Tim Owen from taking part in Lai's trial.

At a High Court hearing before a three-judge panel on Tuesday, prosecutor Anthony Chau asked to move the trial to January 3, as the NPCSC is expected to hold a meeting at the end of this year.

But Senior Counsel Robert Pang, representing Lai, said the NPCSC might not handle the interpretation request at the meeting.

Pang asked the court to put the trial back until October next year, noting that Owen - who is not currently in Hong Kong - is scheduled to take on another case in May that is expected to last 100 days.

In response, the court pointed out that it cannot control whether or when the NPCSC makes an interpretation and postponed the trial until September next year.

Lai denies taking part in a conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications, as well as conspiring with others to collude with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security.