Secretary for Justice Paul Lam emphasized that the 6,000 people who were arrested but not charged during the 2019 protests should be able to go about their lives normally. He made it clear in newspaper interviews that those under investigation for their actions during the social unrest were not under any restrictions and could enjoy their freedoms like any other citizen.
Lam firmly rejected the idea of imposing a time limit for prosecution, stating that there is no deadline for bringing charges in “serious criminal cases.” He explained that setting a time constraint would go against the principle of the rule of law. The decision to prosecute is based on the available evidence at the time, but circumstances can change, and new evidence may come to light in the future, requiring a reevaluation of the prosecution decision.
Security minister Chris Tang supported Lam’s stance, emphasizing that dropping prosecution after a certain period would essentially legalize illegal actions. Tang highlighted that unless the law specifies a time limit, prosecution will proceed once evidence is obtained. He refuted claims that it was unfair to keep arrested individuals in limbo, stating that delays would only be unjust if law enforcement agencies deliberately withheld prosecution despite having sufficient evidence.
It is essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served, regardless of the passage of time. Lam and Tang’s emphasis on evaluating each case based on the available evidence and the absence of a predetermined time limit for prosecution reflect a commitment to upholding legal standards and protecting the rights of all individuals involved in legal proceedings. Their clarifications provide insight into the complexities of legal processes and the considerations involved in making prosecutorial decisions.
