【雙學判囚】12國際律師聯署信　關注港法治受嚴重威脅

「雙學三子」在律政司提出覆核刑期下，於今年8月因2014年衝撃公民廣場案，被上訴庭改判入獄6至8個月，外界質疑涉政治檢控。12名來自世界各地的資深律師就此發表公開信，關注有關判刑代表法治精神受嚴重威脅，以及違反香港「雙重定罪」的法律原則。

12名來自英國、美國、加拿大、南非及馬來西亞的資深律師發表公開信，關注黃之鋒、羅冠聰及周永康三人被覆核刑期而判囚的案件，他們指「一國兩制」中核心的法治精神及基本自由正受嚴重威脅，又批評《公安條例》違反「公民及政治權利國際公約」，以及警誡2014年中國白皮書，威脅香港司法獨立，擔心會成為任由中國共產黨使喚的藉口。

他們又引述前終審法庭法官包致金所言，指香港法官想保衛司法獨立，但他們面對來自北京的壓力愈來愈多。

聯署的律師包括英國前大法官兼司法大臣、6名英皇御用大律師聯署，包括英國大律師公會人權委員會主席 QC Kirsty Brimelow、亦有曾代表昂山素姬、已故中國諾貝爾和平獎得主劉曉波及其妻子劉霞的美國律師。

律政司回應指,由於黃之鋒等刑期覆核案仍在等候上訴，不宜就個別範疇作評論，但對有關人士對香港法律制度存在誤解感到遺憾，並重申是依照法律程序提出覆核，上訴庭亦指案件涉及暴力而作出量刑，認為聯署信對香港司法獨立的批評，完全沒有根據。

As lawyers, we regard the imprisonment of Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law in Hong Kong as a serious threat to the rule of law and a breach of the principle of “double jeopardy” in Hong Kong – in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

These student activists led the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong in 2014 – one of the most peaceful public protests the world has seen. Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow were already punished by a court a year ago. Joshua and Nathan respectively served 80 and 120 hours of community service, and Alex received a three-week suspended sentence. Yet the Hong Kong government decided to reopen the case and sought tougher punishments.

The law under which they were charged, the Public Order Ordinance, has been criticized by the United Nations for “facilitat[ing] excessive restrictions” to basic rights, and is incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which applies to Hong Kong. Human rights organisations have long urged Hong Kong to revise the ordinance to comply with the ICCPR.

Serious concerns over the independence of the judiciary arise. Court of Final Appeal judge Kemal Bokhary warned of “storm clouds” over the judiciary five years ago. Hong Kong’s judges want to protect its independence, but they face increasing pressure from Beijing. In 2014, China issued a White Paper declaring that Beijing has “comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong” – instead of “the high degree of autonomy” provided for in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitution. China also announced that Hong Kong’s judges are merely “administrators” who must love the country and be "subject to oversight by the central government”. The independence of the judiciary, a pillar of Hong Kong, risks becoming a charade, at the beck and call of the Chinese Communist Party.

Hong Kong’s rule of law and basic freedoms, at the heart of the principle of “one country, two systems”, now face grave threats.

Kirsty Brimelow QC

Patrick Burgess Australia – former head of human rights in the UN in East Timor and President of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR).

Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC

Sir Desmond De Silva QC

Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC – former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Jared Genser – Freedom Now

Justice Richard Goldstone (South Africa)

Andrew Khoo (Malaysia)

David Matas (Canada)

Michael Mansfield QC

Rajiv Menon QC

Sir Geoffrey Nice QC – former chief prosecutor in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic