Senior Counsel and Temple Chambers barrister Victor Dawes has been elected unopposed as the new chairman of Hong Kong’ Bar Association. Dawes was appointed alongside two other vice-chairmen, criminal lawyer Derek Chan Ching-lung SC of Plowman Chambers and commercial lawyer Jose-Antonio Maurellet SC of Des Veoux Chambers.
Dawes succeeds Paul Harris SC, who has come under fire and has been labeled an “anti-China politician” by pro-Beijing groups for having commented that provisions under the National Security Law did not comply with rights guaranteed under the city’s Basic Law. Harris has also suggested amendments to the Beijing-imposed legislation.
