4 Nov 2024明報#4199
612 Fund case: Lawyer receives written warning after Law Society rules conduct breached practice rules; no indication yet of referral to disciplinary tribunal
警方國安處2022年5月調查「612人道支援基金」案時，指控有大律師及律師涉專業失當並向兩個律師會投訴。繼大律師公會今年初指無證據38名涉事大律師專業失當後，據本報了解，陸續有涉案事務律師收到調查結果，指裁定涉事行為違反《律師執業規則》，並可能有損個人或法律專業名譽，但據在本報初步掌握的這批個案，只收到律師會書面警告，暫未見這批個案轉交可撤銷執業資格的律師紀律審裁團處理。
明報記者 林勵
投訴調查是否已完成 待回覆
律師會今年1月回應時透露共收到16宗投訴，當時其中10宗已完成調查並正覆核，最嚴重的個案可能需轉交律師紀律審裁團處理。本報昨午向律師會查詢是否已完成調查所有投訴，有待回覆。至於有沒有個案要由律師紀律審裁團審理，則有待查證。
律師會前會長、立法會法律界議員林新強相信，律師會是按機制研究後作出決定，雖然發信做法相對輕微，都是一種處分。另一前會長兼議員何君堯說，2019年引發社會事件性質嚴重，「無理由發信遺憾就算」。
When the police National Security Department investigated the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund case in May 2022, it accused barristers and solicitors of professional misconduct and lodged complaints with the two legal professional bodies. After the Bar Association said early this year that there was no evidence of professional misconduct by the 38 barristers involved, Ming Pao understands that solicitors implicated in the case have successively received the investigation findings. They state that the conduct in question was found to have breached the Solicitors’ Practice Rules and might adversely affect the reputation of the individuals or the legal profession. However, based on the cases initially obtained by this newspaper, the solicitors have only received written warnings from the Law Society, and there is so far no indication that these cases have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which can revoke practising qualifications.
Ming Pao reporter Lam Lai
Whether complaint investigations have been completed awaits a response
In its response in January this year, the Law Society disclosed that it had received a total of 16 complaints. At that time, 10 had completed investigation and were under review, while the most serious cases might need to be referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This newspaper asked the Law Society yesterday afternoon whether investigations into all the complaints had been completed, but a response was pending. Whether any cases need to be heard by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal also remains to be ascertained.
Former Law Society president and Legislative Council legal-sector lawmaker Ambrose San Keung Lam believes that the Law Society made its decision after studying the matter in accordance with established procedures. Although sending a letter is a relatively minor measure, it is still a form of disciplinary action. Another former president and lawmaker, Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, said that the social incident triggered in 2019 was serious in nature: “There is no reason for it to be considered settled merely by sending a letter of regret.”
23 Oct 2024獨媒#4170
First Hung Shui Kiu Residents Must Move Out by Year-End; Protest at Government Headquarters Calls for Humane Rehousing
洪水橋／厦村新發展區第二期工程於今年5月獲立法會撥款，政府隨即展開收地工作，首階段收回176公頃土地，8月31日復歸政府。有居民今早到政府總部外抗議，指最早一批居民需於今年12月6日遷走，他們要求先安置後拆遷，並人性化處理。
當局是於今年5月，宣布收回位於洪水橋／厦村的176公頃私人土地作新發展區第二期發展，土地於今年8月31日已復歸政府所有，涉及1,693個住戶及364個業務經營者。新聞公告指地政總署首批遷出的住戶涉274個，當中85個合資格住戶可獲安置或獲發現金特惠津貼、147個住戶的個案正在處理或尚待提交補充資料，42個住戶不合資格。
立法會議員狄志遠今早聯同約20位受影響的洪水橋居民代表到政府總部門外請願，他們手持印有「強烈要求 先安置後清拆 人性化顧民生」的橫額，並高呼「安置要求不合理由」、「收地不安置村民要瞓街」等口號。
The second-phase works for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area received funding from the Legislative Council in May this year, after which the Government began land resumption. In the first phase, 176 hectares of land were resumed and reverted to the Government on 31 August. Residents protested outside Government Headquarters this morning, saying that the earliest group of residents must move out by 6 December this year. They called for rehousing before demolition and a humane approach to handling the matter.
In May this year, the authorities announced the resumption of 176 hectares of private land in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen for the second-phase development of the new development area. The land reverted to Government ownership on 31 August this year, affecting 1,693 households and 364 business operators. A news announcement by the Lands Department said that the first batch to move out comprised 274 households. Of these, 85 eligible households could receive rehousing or a cash ex-gratia allowance; the cases of 147 households were being processed or were awaiting supplementary information; and 42 households were ineligible.
Legislative Council member Tik Chi-yuen joined about 20 representatives of affected Hung Shui Kiu residents in petitioning outside Government Headquarters this morning. They held a banner reading “Strongly demand rehousing before clearance; adopt a humane approach and care for people’s livelihoods” and chanted slogans including “Rehousing demands are unreasonable” and “If land is resumed without rehousing villagers, they will have to sleep on the streets.”
16 Oct 2024HK01#4148
2024 Policy Address | League of Social Democrats petitions outside government headquarters before John Lee’s address, urging open channels for public views and genuine reform
【施政報告2024/李家超/施政報告】行政長官李家超今日（16日）早上11時會到立法會宣讀任內三份施政報告，社會民主連線5名成員，於早上九時到政府總部外請願，要求立即實行普選，批評政府現時推動是改革脫離民意。社民連主席陳寶瑩不滿港府現時「偏聽偏信富人而非普通市民」，稱若要真改革，政府要廣開言路，並確保傳媒監察權利及市民言論自由。
【2024 Policy Address/John Lee/Policy Address】Chief Executive John Lee will deliver the third Policy Address of his term in the Legislative Council at 11 a.m. today (16th). Five members of the League of Social Democrats petitioned outside the Government Headquarters at 9 a.m., calling for the immediate implementation of universal suffrage and criticising the government’s current reforms as being out of step with public opinion. League chairperson Chan Po-ying criticised the Hong Kong government for currently “listening only to the rich rather than ordinary citizens”, saying that if it wants genuine reform, it must open channels for public views and ensure the media’s watchdog rights and residents’ freedom of speech.
10 Oct 2024集誌社#4137
Double Tenth Day｜56-year-old pro-Taiwan Plastics Free Trade Union deregisters; Kok Keung Lee recalls characteristics of the “free trade union” era
今（10月10日）是雙十節，香港的右派團體已趨向低調多年，親台工會在香港的勢力也漸趨薄弱，翻查憲報資料，今年有三個屬於港九工團聯合總會的屬會工會，在六月至七月期間撤銷登記，分別為有約 56 年歷史的港九塑膠製品自由工會、成立了約 26 年的攝影及沖印業職工會，和家務助理及幼兒工作者工會。
港九工團聯合總會主席李國強表示，上述三個工會，已有一段時間沒跟總會聯繫。李國強說，今年雙十節，他們「冇活動、冇聚餐、冇去紅樓」。但工團總會仍關注輸入外勞問題、有就 23 條立法、社團條例等議題繼續發聲。
Today (October 10) is Double Tenth Day. Right-wing groups in Hong Kong have kept a low profile for years, while the influence of pro-Taiwan trade unions in Hong Kong has also gradually weakened. According to Gazette records, three affiliated unions of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council deregistered between June and July this year: the Hong Kong and Kowloon Plastic Products Free Trade Union, which had a history of about 56 years; the Photography and Photofinishing Industry Workers’ Union, established about 26 years ago; and the Domestic Helpers and Childcare Workers’ Union.
The council’s chairman, Kok Keung Lee, said the three unions had not been in contact with the council for some time. Kok Keung Lee said that this year, on Double Tenth Day, they had “no activities, no banquet, and no going to the Red House”. The Trades Union Council nevertheless continues to focus on the issue of imported labour and to speak out on issues including legislation under Article 23 and the Societies Ordinance.
2 Oct 2024明報#4106
Lui Yuk Lin mourns Lamma ferry disaster; 20 police on standby
昨日十一是南丫海難12周年，社運人士「女長毛」雷玉蓮（前）晚上約8時在中環碼頭悼念死難者，廿多名警員在場戒備及拍攝。她多度試圖靠近海邊，指警員以多人看煙花為由阻止。其間她手持鮮花念經，晚上10時才能到海旁拜祭，警員禁止她燒衣紙及點香燭。
國慶煙花昨晚約9時開始，雷說8時許到場仍不獲准辦儀式，質疑警員多番阻撓，「每個舉動都是向39名死難者家屬的傷口灑鹽」。她指悼念並不違法，去年同樣時間亦獲准悼念，並質疑警員以背部阻擋記者拍攝她在煙花下悼念。
Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of the Lamma ferry disaster. At about 8pm, social activist “Lui Yuk Lin” Lui Yuk Lin (front) mourned the victims at the Central ferry pier, where more than 20 police officers were stationed to maintain security and take photographs. She repeatedly tried to approach the waterfront, saying officers stopped her on the grounds that many people were watching the fireworks. She held flowers and recited scriptures, and was only able to reach the waterfront to pay her respects at 10pm. Police prohibited her from burning paper offerings or lighting incense and candles.
The National Day fireworks began at about 9pm. Lei said that she arrived shortly after 8pm but was still not allowed to hold the ceremony, and questioned the repeated obstruction by police, saying, “Every action is rubbing salt into the wounds of the families of the 39 victims.” She said mourning was not illegal, adding that she had also been allowed to mourn at the same time last year. She also questioned whether police had used their backs to block reporters from filming her mourning under the fireworks.
2 Oct 2024獨媒#4107
Cheung Bing-leung urges government to encourage assemblies to show Hong Kong remains pluralistic, draw line on uncharged anti-amendment cases
前運輸及房屋局局長張炳良《明報》專訪，呼籲特區政府要尋找關鍵點，以扭轉外界對「一國兩制」的看法，建議當局鼓勵團體集會，證明本港仍然可以集會，及顯示依然自由多元。對於反修例仍有6,000名被捕人士未被起訴，張炳良認為當局應有一個說法，如證據不足，可以公布不再處理，但強調並非特赦，只是「為件事劃一條線」。
現年71歲的張炳良曾是民主黨副主席，在港英年代曾任立法局議員，在梁振英任行政長官期間出任運輸及房屋局局長，2017年卸任後到大學教書，現為教大公共行政學顧問，近年屢向現屆政府「隔空」勸諫
In an interview with Ming Pao, former Secretary for Transport and Housing Cheung Bing-leung urged the SAR government to identify key points to reverse external perceptions of “one country, two systems”. He suggested that the authorities encourage organisations to hold assemblies to demonstrate that assemblies remain possible in Hong Kong and that the city remains free and pluralistic. Regarding the 6,000 people arrested in connection with the anti-amendment movement who have still not been charged, Cheung said the authorities should provide an explanation. If the evidence was insufficient, they could announce that they would no longer pursue the cases. He stressed that this would not be an amnesty, but merely “drawing a line under the matter”.
Cheung, 71, was formerly a vice-chairman of the Democratic Party and served as a Legislative Council member during the British Hong Kong period. He was Secretary for Transport and Housing during Leung Chun-ying’s tenure as Chief Executive. After stepping down in 2017, he began teaching at a university and is now an adviser on public administration at the Education University of Hong Kong. In recent years, he has repeatedly offered advice “from afar” to the current government.
29 Sept 2024獨媒#4094
【Ten Years After the Umbrella Movement】Tanya Chan Posts on Its 10th Anniversary, Announces Role as Chef in Taiwan
昨日（9月28日）是雨傘運動爆發十周年。「佔中九子」之一、2021年移居台灣的前立法會議員陳淑莊發帖，宣布自己的新身份為台北「紅棉」餐廳主廚，形容自己為成廚師是一個不可思議的奇蹟。
陳淑莊透過其任職主廚的「紅棉」餐廳主頁，公布近況。她指自己是來臺三年的新住民，新身份是「紅棉」餐廳的主廚，形容能成為「廚師是一個不可思議的奇蹟」。
Yesterday (September 28) marked the 10th anniversary of the outbreak of the Umbrella Movement. Tanya Chan, one of the Occupy Central Nine and a former Legislative Council member who moved to Taiwan in 2021, posted to announce her new identity as the chef of Taipei restaurant Red Cotton, describing becoming a chef as an incredible miracle.
Chan announced her latest situation through the homepage of Red Cotton, where she works as head chef. She said she had been a new resident in Taiwan for three years and that her new identity was head chef of Red Cotton, describing the fact that she had become a chef as “an incredible miracle.”
29 Sept 2024獨媒#4095
[Ten Years After the Umbrella Movement] Studying in the US, Continuing Hong Kong’s Story Abroad — Alex Chow: Making Peace with Himself
2019年6月，正在美國修讀博士的周永康，短暫返港，剛好目睹反修例運動爆發。在雨傘運動時擔任學聯秘書長、與黃之鋒和岑敖暉被合稱為「雙學三子」的他，下意識地想，運動怎樣協調？能夠迴避2014年的矛盾嗎？
但事情比誰想像中也發展得快。周永康返美後，運動演化為「無大台」、「和勇不分」，再後來《國安法》通過，香港社會巨變。周永康沒想過，那是他最後一次回港。
In June 2019, Alex Chow, who was pursuing a doctorate in the United States, briefly returned to Hong Kong and happened to witness the outbreak of the anti-extradition bill movement. During the Umbrella Movement, he had served as secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students and was dubbed one of the “three student leaders” alongside Joshua Wong and Lester Shum. He instinctively wondered how the movement would be coordinated and whether the conflicts of 2014 could be avoided.
But events developed faster than anyone could have imagined. After Chow returned to the United States, the movement evolved into “no central leadership” and “no distinction between peaceful and militant protesters.” Later, the National Security Law was passed, and Hong Kong society underwent profound changes. Chow had not expected that it would be his last time returning to Hong Kong.
22 Sept 2024法庭線#4068
North Point shooting case | Family protest at Police Headquarters with death portrait; widow: “I deeply regret calling the police! I didn’t ask you to come and kill my husband!”
上周日（ 15日）警員在北角錦屏街一單位開槍擊斃一名 38 歲、患思覺失調男子，男子懷疑襲擊其母及妻子，警方指，男子當時持菜刀、鉸剪衝向警員。死者家屬今（22日）到警總抗議，質疑警方使用過度武力，遺孀哭訴：「你可用胡椒噴霧，揾吓談判專家。」「我報警係叫你哋幫助我。唔係叫你過嚟殺死我老公。」警方指，根據初步調查，事件中警員開槍的決定符合警隊有關守則。
Last Sunday (15th), police officers shot and killed a 38-year-old man with a psychotic disorder at a flat on Kam Ping Street, North Point. The man was suspected of attacking his mother and wife. Police said he was holding a cleaver and scissors and charged at the officers. The deceased’s family protested at Police Headquarters today (22nd), questioning whether excessive force had been used. His widow wept and said: “You could have used pepper spray and found a negotiation specialist.” “I called the police to ask you to help us. I didn’t ask you to come and kill my husband.” Police said that, according to a preliminary investigation, the officers’ decision to fire was in accordance with the relevant police guidelines.
19 Sept 2024獨媒#4057
Former HKCTU affiliates continue operating; union chair says they will do their utmost to keep going
2021年9月職工盟解散後，部分原屬會續繼續運作。其中零售、商業及成衣業總工會日前舉行記者會，就本地勞工問題發聲。總幹事張麗霞表示，工會過往一段時間受壓，需「躺平」數月，現時亦只能盡力保持運作，「又未去到心灰嘅」、「做到做唔到（為止）」。
After the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions dissolved in September 2021, some of its former affiliates continued to operate. The Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union held a press conference recently to speak out on local labour issues. Its general secretary, Lai Ha (SAB) Cheung, said the union had come under pressure for some time and had needed to “lie low” for several months. It can now only do its utmost to maintain operations: “It’s not as if we’ve become completely disheartened,” and “we’ll do what we can (until we can no longer do so).”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
