As of 20 September 2019, there have been at least 33 lawyers affected by administrative penalties, and have had their licenses revoked, invalidated or suspended since 2017. The authorities have been employing “administrative punishment” as a means to suppress rights lawyers who nobly represent sensitive cases.
According to Article 16 of “UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers”, the member states of United Nations shall ensure that lawyers “are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, or improper interference”, and “shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.”
China needs to hold lawyers rights within the country up to international standards, and allow lawyers to duly carry out their duties to defend their clients.
For the full list of affected lawyers, please see:
https://www.chrlawyers.hk//sites/default/files/share/files/A%20List%20of%20Lawyers%20who%20Face%20the%20Threat%20of%20Administrative%20Penalty%20%28As%20of%2020%20Sept%202019%29.pdf