‘Sharpening my sword’: One of Hong Kong’s most-wanted can now practise law in Australia

London: Ted Hui is one of South Australia’s newest lawyers. He may also be one of Australia’s most-convicted legal practitioners.

The Hongkonger fled to Australia via London in 2021, on the run from Beijing’s oppressive crackdown on dissent in the former British territory.

China imposed a draconian national security law on the city in June 2020 amid widespread anti-government protests. Among its targets were journalists, lawyers, democracy activists and members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui was admitted as a barrister and solicitor at South Australia’s Supreme Court.Credit: Ted Hui Chi Fung/Facebook

Sentenced in exile for contempt of court and misconduct, Hui, a former legislator, would be thrown in jail should he return home while Beijing rules. Hong Kong police have set bounties for information leading to his arrest, as well for the arrest of his fellow democracy campaigners – including Nathan Law, who sought political asylum in the UK.

Hui is adamant he will one day go home, and when he does, Hong Kong will be free.

“It’s more than a goal. It’s a pledge that I made to myself that I would go home one day in freedom and I am still confident about it,” the 41-year-old said in an interview after being admitted to South Australia’s Supreme Court as a barrister and solicitor.

Hui was one of the Hong Kong democracy movement’s most radical and high-profile members. In March 2020, during a parliamentary reading of the disputed National Anthem Bill, he threw rotten plant matter inside the legislative chamber in protest.

In the past, Hui said, activists thought of other ways – more peaceful, less radical – to negotiate with Beijing such as protests and civil disobedience.

“But now I am determined, Hongkongers are determined, that that is not going to work with the Chinese Communist Party. The only thing is to have it totally step down from power.

“The CCP must disappear from this world, from this world order – it should disappear. I believe that’s the only way Hong Kong will get freedom.”

He took an important step in that journey this week being admitted to the bar.

“In the long term, I want to focus on human rights and also international human rights law, so that I can pursue my goal of having the Hong Kong regime, which abused human rights, to pay a price.

“I’m equipping myself by sharpening my sword – that’s what I call it.”

But Hui says while he gains the experience required to work in international law, there are practical ways he will continue helping Hong Kong with his new qualifications.

“Firstly, and most directly, I can provide legal assistance to those who are seeking political asylum from Hong Kong.

“I’m well-positioned to do that – give that legal advice, help them draft the documents – that’s something I can do right now. ”

He says the Australian government, can support Hong Kong by strengthening its statements when gross abuses of rights occur, such as developments in the ongoing cases against Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai and fellow democracy activists.

“I really want the Australian government to have much stronger statements; it’s already very strong, but it can be stronger,” he said.

Lai and six other pro-democracy campaigners had part of their convictions quashed by Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal this week, but they remain in jail.

Four retired Australian judges – Robert French, Murray Gleeson, William Gummow and Patrick Keane – sit on Hong Kong’s highest court.

“They really shouldn’t be serving the Hong Kong top court any more. It’s window dressing, lending Australian values of democracy and freedom to a very already eroded system.”

He urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to not join the string of world leaders who have paid a visit to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping.

“It can’t be business as usual with China when all my colleagues and many, many Hongkongers are locked up in prison for fighting for democracy.”

He said if Albanese did go, his first words to Xi should be about human rights and Hong Kong.

Unlike some of his fellow democracy campaigners, Hui does not have close ties with anyone back in Hong Kong, meaning his distant relatives have, so far, not been subjected to the official harassment meted out to Law’s family – who were taken in for questioning in what campaigners slammed as a clear tactic of intimidation from Beijing.

Hui said his family felt welcome in Australia, as well as safe from the CCP.

“From the people, from the parliament, the government – I feel very welcome here, I’m privileged.”

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