Movement\u2019s co-founders Benny Tai, Dr Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming face charges over public nuisanceMotion in House of Commons urges British government to raise the issue with Hong Kong\u2019s leaders and \u2018consider further action\u2019<\/b>
\nHong Kong\u2019s leader has hit out at British legislators who criticised the city\u2019s prosecution of nine key figures from 2014\u2019s pro-democracy Occupy protests, saying foreign politicians should not \u201cinterfere with the city\u2019s internal affairs\u201d.
The defendants, including Occupy co-founders Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Dr Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, were charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance, incitement to public nuisance, and incitement to incite public nuisance.
The motion, tabled by Fiona Bruce, chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, urged the British government to raise the issue with the Hong Kong government and \u201cconsider further action\u201d. It was co-signed by seven other members of parliament.
Speaking in Papua New Guinea on Monday, Lam suggested the condemnation was tantamount to demanding certain decisions from the city\u2019s justice department.
\u201cUnder the prerequisite of Hong Kong\u2019s judicial independence and the rule of law, it was our prosecution authority that made prosecution decisions,\u201d she said.
In a reference to Hong Kong\u2019s mini-constitution, Lam added: \u201cUnder the Basic Law, [the power to make] decisions regarding prosecution only belongs to the secretary for justice. Even I myself, as the chief executive, would not make or interfere with such a decision.\u201d
\u201cNow it is foreign governments or parliamentarians who are demanding we make certain decisions in prosecution. This is very obviously interfering with internal affairs, and is very undesirable,\u201d she added.
In their motion, the British MPs also noted that the current trial is not in isolation.
\u201cMore than 100 pro-democracy protesters have been charged, and many jailed, on the basis of common law charges which curtail freedom of expression and have been criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Committee,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n