In relation to the media reports today about Mr Lau Wai-chung who was assigned by the Legal Aid Department (LAD) as defence counsel for Mr Tong Ying-kit in the National Security Law case, the LAD today (June 21) responds as follows:

     Mr Lau Wai-chung is one of the defence counsel representing the legally-aided person Mr Tong Ying-kit. The LAD assigned the case to Mr Lau in accordance with the established assignment criteria. Mr Lau also meets the criteria for assignment of legal aid cases. At the time when LAD assigned the case to Mr Lau, he was not yet involved and charged in any case.

     All the hearings including the case management hearings and pre-trial reviews in Tong Ying-kit’s case were conducted in open court. Information submitted by the Prosecution did not involve any confidential matters. Therefore there does not exist any situation where Mr Lau can make use of confidential information obtained in the case for the purpose of preparing defence in his own case in future.