Lawyer Groups Condemn Attack On Shatin Court

The Bar Association says it deplores an incident in which flower troughs outside the Shatin Law Courts Building were set alight on Wednesday night, saying this represented an attack on the SAR's independent judicial authority.

In a statement, the association says while it condemns all instances of violence and arson that cause serious and extensive damage and even life-threatening personal injuries, the attack on the court building stands out because of its symbolism, adding that it’s hard to think of anything more corrosive to the rule of law.

It also warned that the constitutional fabric of Hong Kong would be torn apart with “disastrous consequences” for every resident if such attacks continued.

Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Law Society, Melissa Pang, also condemned the arson attack, saying the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s democracy.

She warned that without the rule of law, the city will plunge into a state of chaos.

In a statement, Pang said anybody unhappy with court decisions could seek an appeal which would be dealt with via a well-established mechanism.

At their press briefing on Thursday, the police also strongly criticised the fire outside the court building.