Hong Kong passes law to limit work of foreign lawyers amid ongoing Jimmy Lai case

Amended legislation gives chief executive power to veto any foreign lawyer working on cases brought under national security law

Hong Kong’s government has passed a law that allows authorities to ban foreign lawyers from working on national security cases, completing a months-long effort to block a UK lawyer from defending media mogul and activist Jimmy Lai.

The amendment, which was passed unanimously by the Legislative Council on Thursday, gives the chief executive the power to veto any foreign lawyer from working on cases brought under the 2020 National Security Law (NSL).