National Security Committee Meets to Discuss NPC Interpretation, Does Not Immediately Bar Tim Owen from National Security Law Case
國安委今開會討論人大釋法 未即時禁止Tim Owen參與國安法案件
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.
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》。