Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, after attending the luncheon meeting of the Hong Kong Public Administration Association today (May 22):

Reporter: You stressed just now that you would be treating every single case apolitically. What about the Ken Tsang case where seven police officers allegedly beat him up in the Tamar Park? How is the progress of that case right now?

Secretary for Justice: If I remember correctly when I answered that question, I was saying that the court will be dealing with cases apolitically. In response to your questions, I can also guarantee you that our prosecutors, namely the colleagues of the Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice, will also decide any cases of prosecution in an apolitical manner. In other words, we will not take into account any political considerations when we decide whether to prosecute or when we decide any prosecution shall or shall not be continued. In response to the question that you just raised, because you were mentioning a specific case and the case is now still under progress, therefore I am not at liberty to divulge to you the details of how that case is being handled. I can tell you two points, though. Point one is my colleagues are looking at the case very carefully and in strict accordance with the law. Point number two, if I may also add, we fully appreciate the sensitivity of the case. And indeed, to ensure that the ultimate advice and recommendation that we are going to make is independent and will be well received by the community, we have in fact decided to engage outside independent senior counsel to advise on the case. As we have done on some other occasions, the engagement of outside independent senior counsel to provide legal advice independently is a very effective way to ensure that ultimately the decision to be made is, first of all, independent, and will be perceived to be independent. So that is one way to alleviate any concern and I hope I have answered your question.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, May 22, 2015