HK Chief Tells Lawyers To Stay Out Of Politics, Just Follow Beijing

Hong Kong's government may cut ties with one of the city's key legal profession associations if it gets involved in politics, leader Carrie Lam said in her latest warning to civil society groups.

Photo Insert: Carrie Lam

Lam's comments come before an Aug. 24 election for five seats on the council of Hong Kong's Law Society, the professional association and regulator for the city's 12,000 solicitors, Sara Cheng reported for Reuters.

Lam said in April the government could intervene if necessary in the Bar Association for barristers, whose chairman Paul Harris has been labeled an "anti-China" politician by top Beijing officials after he criticized jail terms handed to some pro-democracy politicians.

Although the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the Bar Association, debates in its recent elections have focused on a more liberal agenda. This year, four of the candidates are considered outspoken, raising fears among some government officials of a political agenda.

Also, China's People Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, called on the Law Society not to become a “politicized group” and show it was different than the Bar Association, which it described as a "running rat" since it does not toe Beijing political line.

"If the Law Society’s professionalism is trumped by politics, the government will consider cutting ties with it," Lam told reporters at her regular weekly news conference. The Law Society said it remained politically neutral.

"We are in constant communication with relevant governmental departments, expressing opinion to improve the practice environment and regularly responds, from the legal perspective, to consultations on different issues," Law Society President Melissa Pang said. The Bar Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has said it is not a political organization.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC