1/4 Today, I testified at the Congressional Executive Commission on China @CECCgov about my experience with the broken Hong Kong justice system. You can watch my oral testimony (along with my co-witnesses) & read my longer written testimony on my Substack. https://t.co/aoSEUlyT41
1/2 The Hong Kong CFA registrar has refused to grant me an appeal hearing, saying there are “no reasonable grounds” for appeal. This is a low bar to meet—some veteran CFA lawyers tell me they’ve never received such a denial—so to deny leave in this case, of all cases, is absurd.
Wow. Michael Vidler, one of Hong Kong’s best-known human rights lawyers, a man who took cases relating to the 2019 anti-government protests and transgender rights, is shutting down his law firm.
Another depressing marker. https://t.co/cvUsvtpanl
To state the obvious, in #HK, with state media outlets like Wen Wei Po harassing lawyers like Michael Vidler and linking him to his former clients (Joshua Wong, Ken Tsang, Eddie Chu) it will become increasing difficult for people accused of NSL offences to receive a fair trial.
Michael Vidler's law firm to close. It's handled many cases related to the 2019 protests & other human rights cases & has been criticized by the CCP-owned media. This follows former Hong Kong Bar Association chair Paul Harris' departure from HK in March.
https://t.co/aoz32qGLhQ
Michael Vidler is one of the very few remaining Hong Kong civil solicitors who would sue the govt and police, & his firm is known for taking on controversial & politically risky cases. If his firm is folding, we really are reaching the end of the road. https://t.co/t9qa5i4bQD
BREAKING: Human rights lawyer Michael Vidler has left Hong Kong, with journalists from the state-backed press filming his departure at the airport.
Last week, HKFP reported his law firm would be closing: https://t.co/pise9ndDFb