Misrepresentation and manipulation: Reality behind 'foreign lawyers' claiming to represent Jimmy Lai

Since the trial of Jimmy Lai, accusations from Western anti-China organizations have been continuous with a lack of evidence, aiming to pressure the Hong Kong government to release Lai before the trial.

Recent reports indicate that the so-called "foreign legal team" frequently voicing concerns does not genuinely represent Lai; its members are all anti-China figures from the West, functioning more as a "political organization" than a legitimate "lawyers' group."

On November 13, this self-proclaimed "foreign legal team" held a seminar in the UK, using the "Jimmy Lai case" to smear Hong Kong's reputation for suppressing speech and press freedom.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher, a leading figure in this anti-China organization, is scheduled to attend a press conference hosted by the National Press Club in the US on November 20, where she claims to address the rule of law in Hong Kong, the progress of the Lai case, and his conditions in prison. It is anticipated that they may again propagate the false narrative of "inhumane treatment" in prison.

In reality, this so-called "foreign legal team" has never participated in Lai's case as legal representatives; instead, they frequently collaborate with Lai's son, attending meetings and events organized by governments in the US, UK, and Australia, lobbying for foreign intervention to pressure Hong Kong government into releasing Lai ahead of the trial. They often fabricate accusations without any credible evidence, tarnishing Hong Kong's judicial system while engaging with other anti-China politicians online to amplify their narrative.

As early as January last year, the local "Robertson Law Firm" issued a statement clarifying that they are the only legal team representing Lai in his national security case. This indicates that the "foreign fake lawyers" hold no representation in Lai's legal matters.

The "foreign fake legal team's" tendency to concoct lies is not new. On September 12, they submitted an emergency complaint to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, fabricating claims that Lai was subjected to inhumane treatment in prison. In response, the Robertson Law Firm released a statement on September 27 confirming that Lai has not faced unfair treatment in prison and that the allegations are unfounded.

As the Lai case resumes on Wednesday (November 20), legal experts in Hong Kong point out that the "foreign fake legal team" plans to attend the so-called press conference on the same day, openly commenting on and interfering in an ongoing judicial process. This violates the spirit of the rule of law and raises concerns about obstructing judicial fairness.

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