10 May 2023獨媒#6423
LegCo passes curbs on foreign lawyers taking national security cases
黎智英國安案觸發的釋法風波，律政司最終提出《法律執業者條例》修訂，設多重關卡審查海外律師參與國家安全案件。立法會今日恢復辯論，法律界林新強指方案未一刀切禁止海外律師，只是由特首和律政司分別擔任龍門及後衛，「但英國曼聯足球隊，都有個後衛叫『麥麥送』，無法擔保久守不會出錯。」修訂最終在不記名投票下，三讀舉手通過，無人舉手反對。
The controversy over the interpretation of the law triggered by Jimmy Lai’s national security case ultimately led the Department of Justice to propose amendments to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, creating multiple layers of scrutiny for overseas lawyers participating in national security cases. The Legislative Council resumed debate today. Ambrose San Keung Lam of the legal sector said the proposal did not impose a blanket ban on overseas lawyers, but instead made the Chief Executive and the Secretary for Justice the “goalkeeper” and “defender” respectively: “But Manchester United also have a defender called ‘Maimaisong’, and there is no guarantee that making a prolonged defence will not lead to mistakes.” The amendment ultimately passed its third reading by a show of hands in an anonymous vote, with no one raising a hand against it.
11 Jan 2023獨媒#5934
National Security Committee Meets to Discuss NPC Interpretation, Does Not Immediately Bar Tim Owen from National Security Law Case
壹傳媒創辦人黎智英打算聘請英國御用大律師Tim Owen 辯護其《國安法》案件，行政長官李家超就海外大狀可否參與《國安法》案件提請人大釋法，惟人大最終未有定論，反將問題交予由李家超任主席的香港維護國家安全委員會（國安委）決定。國安委已於今日開會，表示會全力落實釋法內容中所說明的責任，未有即時禁止Tim Owen參與國安法案件，但指支持修訂《法律執業者條例》。
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai plans to hire British King’s Counsel Tim Owen to defend him in his National Security Law case. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu asked the National People’s Congress to interpret the law on whether overseas counsel may participate in National Security Law cases. The NPC ultimately reached no conclusion, instead referring the matter to the Hong Kong Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by Lee. The committee met today and said it would fully implement the responsibilities set out in the interpretation. It did not immediately bar Tim Owen from participating in National Security Law cases, but said it supported amending the Legal Practitioners Ordinance.
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