A leading lawyers' organization yesterday attacked Hong Kong's new political leader for steamrolling measures past lawmakers that give police sweeping powers to secretly intercept private phone calls.
The Bar Association said Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) had acted outside his remit and damaged basic human rights in the Chinese city by invoking a rarely used executive order to push through the controversial measures on Friday.
"The Bar is of the view that the chief executive ... cannot ... assert a power to authorize covert surveillance when such surveillance may infringe the fundamental rights of residents," it said in a strongly worded statement.
"The Bar is very disappointed that the chief executive did not seek to address the matter through legislation," the statement said.
SECRET WIRETAPS
Tsang forced through the measures on Friday after a number of high-profile corruption cases collapsed because evidence obtained by secret wiretaps was dismissed and the practice ruled unconstitutional.
Lawyers say the new measures provide few safeguards as officers need only the permission of their superiors, and not a court, to tap private phone lines.
They also complain that the measures do not restrict the use of material that has been obtained through wire taps to only criminal inquiries.
It raised alarm bells in Hong Kong, where Tsang has been accused -- like his bosses in China -- of taking a tough line on free speech.
HEAVY-HANDED
The accusations stem from the heavy-handed treatment of the public broadcaster RTHK, which has prompted concerns among some for the station's editorial independence.
Chief Secretary Rafael Hui (
"We hope the Bar Association can give us some suggestions. If we don't issue this order, then what other ways, during this transitional period, can we use to continue enabling law enforcement authorities to fulfil their responsibilities to investigate [crimes]?" he said.
Justice Secretary Elsie Leung (梁愛詩) insisted the new measure was legal and said she would meet with lawyers in the next few days to discuss it with them.
The executive order has only ever been used once before, in 1997, when it was invoked to give the chief executive the power to hire or remove civil servants.
DROP IN POPULARITY
Meanwhile, Tsang's popularity has seen a steep drop in the past two weeks, a survey released yesterday showed.
The former civil-service head took office with his routinely high popularity rating nudging 80 percent.
However, the survey last week by the University of Hong Kong found his support level had slipped 6 percentage points to 66 percent of the 1,015 people polled.
"Tsang's honeymoon period is over," author Robert Chung (鍾庭耀) said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College