bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Joyce Ng

The justice secretary has defended himself against criticism from members of his alma mater that he has exploited the courts in handling the Occupy protests.
Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung said yesterday that he disagreed with the views expressed by alumni, pupils, parents and former teachers of Queen Elizabeth School in a Monday newspaper advertisement that accused him of failing in his job.
The ad, placed by the group of 270, slammed Yuen for "indulging" the government, which hid behind civil court cases sought by private parties to clear Occupy sites in Mong Kok and Admiralty and solve what was supposed to be a political problem.
"This view has been stated for quite a while. But excuse me, to be frank, I don't agree with what they say," Yuen said.
He said there were considerations of civil law as well as criminal law, which would mean prosecution, such as for taking part in unauthorised assemblies.
"You cannot say that because there is a criminal side [to the protests], we should not let others seek an injunction to protect their rights under civil law."
Yuen also addressed another point made in the ad, that he had met the minibus and taxi operators that applied for the court orders. That meeting raised doubts that public money had been used to help the litigants.
"This is a misunderstanding," he said. "The incident is rare. Very few injunctions come under this kind of situation, and therefore we must have meetings to give the police advice. We did not give the plaintiffs legal advice."
The police were involved because, in the injunction cases targeting the Mong Kok site, the court allowed the applicants to seek help from officers if they were unable to clear the area.
The ad urged Yuen to uphold the school motto to "prepare yourself that you may serve" and stay true to his conscience.
Earlier in the day, Yuen attended a law conference in Macau in which he spoke about progress in setting up a "fugitive offenders agreement" and a "mutual legal assistance agreement" between Hong Kong and Macau.
Hongkongers charged in Macau could at present escape court proceedings as long as they stayed away from the former Portuguese enclave, he noted. The two governments were in the final stage of forming a joint task force and would prepare the needed legislation after signing the deals.


Nothing brings Hongkongers and mainland Chinese closer together than sports

Former Hong Kong politician ‘major backer’ of firearms purchase from US in ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ plot, court hears

Article 23 and the tragedy of Hong Kong

Hong Kong national security law: who are the 8 targeted with HK$1 million bounties? Calls for sanctions, links to 2019 protests among alleged offences

Occupy Central

Justice secretary Rimsky Yuen rejects criticism he 'indulged' government over Occupy Central

Rimsky Yuen has drawn criticism from his own secondary school.

News

Hong Kong

Court injunctions serve to uphold rights under civil law, justice secretary argues


The justice secretary has defended himself against criticism from members of his alma mater that he has exploited the courts in handling the Occupy protests.
