![The Jimmy Lai verdict is a grave and troubling injustice](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1723780547/articles/1pumEKPJy1723788843028/THE-JIMMY-LAI-VERDICT-IS-A-GRAVE-AND-TROUBLING-INJUSTICE.jpg)
In time, history will list them in the same breath as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, Vaclav Havel, Lech Walesa, Andrei Sakharov, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Natan Sharansky, or Mahatma Gandhi, both in terms of their inspiring courage and commitment – and in terms of the absurd injustice with which they have been afflicted.
The decision by Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal to reject an appeal by these seven courageous Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders against a conviction for taking part in a peaceful protest in 2019 is – as the last British governor of Hong Kong Lord Chris Patten rightly said – “unjust”.
It was a protest in which 1.7 million Hong Kongers – about a quarter of the city’s population – participated in a series of peaceful demonstrations that swept Hong Kong in 2019 against a proposed law that would allow for extradition from Hong Kong into mainland China. This was in total breach of Hong Kong’s promised autonomy and freedom.
That a British judge, Lord David Neuberger, one of the few remaining retired foreign judges still sitting in Hong Kong’s courts, sat on the panel that upheld the conviction brings shame to Lord Neuberger and Britain. It gives the lie to the idea that foreign judges can exercise some restraining influence by continuing to sit in Hong Kong’s courts.
Even more shocking is that Lord Neuberger, in the written judgment, said the chief justices had “fully and impressively” considered questions regarding whether the conviction was proportionate to the defendants’ fundamental human rights, enshrined in Hong Kong’s bill of rights – including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
Denne historien er fra August 16, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra August 16, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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England's white-ball reset presents difficult challenge
The Bazball 2.0 white-ball venture has been confirmed for the start of 2025, but before that England take on Australia in a white-ball series packed into September.
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Golden boots shine bright for Kane on winning night
He wore golden boots. And he has won them too of course. Three as the Premier League's top scorer, one for outscoring everyone else in a World Cup. It was a fitting way to mark Harry Kane's century of caps, though. Not the most fitting: that came after the presentations. England 2-0 Finland was Kane 2-0 Finland, a golden night for the golden boots.
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Kane scores twice as he celebrates his 100th cap
As much as this match rightfully became about Harry Kane, there was something else it resembled as Lee Carsley’s England fluidly worked the ball to the centurion for his 67th and 68th international goals. It was like one of the top Premier League teams patiently moving a Championship side around until the gaps presented themselves.
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Government in final stages of £500m Tata rescue deal
The government is working to finalise a rescue deal worth £500m for Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant this week, following the closure of its blast furnaces, according to reports. The package of support had been drawn up by the previous Conservative government.
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Neil steps down as chair of Spectator after £100m sale
Political journalist Andrew Neil has resigned as chair of The Spectator after 20 years at the helm. Neil spoke of his great sadness” at stepping down after the immense privilege” of chairing the world’s oldest current affairs magazine. Financier and GB News investor Sir Paul Marshall becomes the 196-year-old magazine’s 14th proprietor.
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Asos has revealed that fast fashion needs to slow down
The online retailer's new charge for serial returners has been met with uproar. But perhaps it should be a wake-up call if your cheap-clothing habit is that severe, writes Helen Coffey
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Faulty connections make direct flights a good idea
\"The next SkyLine Shuttle will depart in zero seconds.\" That was one of many fibs I was told during a long, winding and annoying journey yesterday afternoon and evening from Tirana in Albania to London Heathrow.
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TOE-TO-TOE COMBAT
It's hard to believe, but a small Derbyshire town has hosted one of the strangest competitive sports in the world for 50 years. Elizabeth McCafferty watches from the sidelines
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Parents need to realise they play a role in kids' behaviour
We appear to be living in dark days for British children. Last month, a report by The Children's Society suggested that kids in the UK faced a \"happiness recession\".
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Jeremy Kyle and shows like it demonised working class
In 2019, Steve Dymond appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show, taking a lie detector test to prove to his ex-fiancee Jane Callaghan that he had not cheated on her. A week later, the 63-year-old was found dead at his Portsmouth home.