Hong Kong politician calls on Rodrigo Duterte to end ‘political persecution’ of his arch-enemy

Veteran Hong Kong democrat Emily Lau said she wished her home city had more politicians as courageous as Senator Leila de Lima during visit to the Philippines

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Emily Lau said that if de Lima is released, it would send a powerful message to the international community that there is the rule of law and justice in the country. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:30pm, 31 Aug 2017Updated: 2:23am, 1 Sep 2017

A veteran democrat in Hong Kong has called on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to end the “political persecution” of his arch-enemy Senator Leila de Lima, who has been held in a detention centre since February.

Emily Lau Wai-hing visited de Lima on Thursday as a member of the delegation from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. As she called for the human rights defender’s release, Lau said she hoped for more Hong Kong politicians as courageous as the senator.

“I hope we will have many determined, courageous and principled politicians in Hong Kong, people who are prepared to make personal sacrifices to fight for public good, for civil liberties, rule of law and democracy,” Lau said from Manila.

“If more Hong Kong people learn about Senator de Lima’s struggle, I think they will have nothing but admiration and support for her and wish more Hong Kong politicians were like her.”

Emily Lau, left, stepped down from the Hong Kong legislature last year after serving as a lawmaker for 25 years, having advocated universal suffrage, human rights and the rule of law. Photo: Handout

De Lima, a former secretary for justice and strongly opposed to Duterte’s war on drugs, was arrested in February on drug-related charges that her supporters believed were the state leader’s attempt to silence her. That war has reportedly killed more than 12,500 people since Duterte took office in June last year.