Jimmy Lai
(Picture: AP)London barristers representing a prominent democracy campaigner have allegedly been threatened by security officials in Hong Kong.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Jonathan Price and Jennifer Robinson, from the Doughty Street Chambers, are representing Jimmy Lai.
Mr Lai, the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily News, is serving a 13-month prison sentence for a number of offences, including including attending a vigil on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square last year.
According to The Times, the barristers received emails claiming to be from an “officer of the national security wing” in Hong Kong.
The messages go on to say that the three barristers have violated the national security law and could be extradited.
The message read: “A person that refuses to abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region could be extradited from other jurisdictions. Foreign nationals will be charged with the offences of subversion.
“You have been warned not to attempt entry or land in Chinese territory.”
The barristers received the emails in the run up to the 25th anniversary of Britain’s handover of Hong Kong to China on July 1.
Ms Gallagher said that the aggressive stance on civil rights and to campaigners within Hong Kong is now worryingly spreading beyond its borders.
She added: “The very act of Jimmy Lai instructing international lawyers to vindicate his rights before the United Nations is considered by the authorities to be subversive.
“This is a deeply concerning development which undermines the rule of law and the international system for human rights protection.”
The team submitted an appeal to the United Nations claiming Mr Lai’s imprisonment is unlawful.
A statement from the barristers, added: “Whether genuine or fake, the aim of the sender is the same — to intimidate us into staying away from Hong Kong, and to stop us acting for our client, Jimmy Lai. We will not be intimidated.”
Mr Lai joined thousands in 2020 to defy a ban from the government to attend a vigil to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen square protests in the Chinese capital.
He had also been one of the most prominent supporters of the city’s pro-democracy movement following the introduction of the Hong Kong security law.
Two British judges left Hong Kong’s Supreme Court earlier this year due to the threat of civil liberties.
