民主派立法會議員司法覆核《緊急法》及《禁蒙面法》24 Pro-democracy Legislators filing JR against the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation

眾籌宣言

眾籌抗惡法 – 推翻《禁止蒙面規例》

自6月起，香港人用汗、血、淚，最終迫使林鄭月娥撤回「送中條例」。可是，香港人堅持「五大訴求、缺一不可」，政府一日拒絕，抗爭一日不止。可恥的是，逃避責任的林鄭政府竟於10月4日引用《緊急情況規例條例》制訂《禁止蒙面規例》，以為阻止市民「蒙面」，就能阻礙市民抗爭的心，可以平息她闖下的禍。

林鄭月娥「撤一條惡法、推兩條惡法」，跳過立法程序，無視立法會審議法例的憲制權利與責任，強奪市民人身自由與保護自身安全的權利，實在不能接受，更不可成為先例。《緊急情況規例條例》這個潘朵拉的盒子一旦打開，日後特區政府將無法無天，任意妄為地繞過立法會，獨斷獨行推出各種剝削人權自由的惡法。

我們24名民主派議員，在10月5日向法庭入稟司法覆核，竭力阻止《禁止蒙面規例》繼續生效。我們期望法庭裁定《緊急情況規例條例》違憲，令政府撤回惡法，並阻擋日後有可能以《緊急情況規例條例》訂下各項惡法的可能。預料此案會上訴至終審法院，所費不菲；一旦敗訴，更有可能須要支付政府一方高昂的律師費。預料整個訴訟雙方開支將高達500萬元。對抗惡法，非單靠我們24人可以成事，實在需要市民同行支持。

聚沙成塔、滴水穿石，我們發起眾籌計劃，與香港人同心合力阻擋惡法。

眾籌目的：

結合市民力量，眾籌是次司法覆核的訴訟費用，希望法庭裁定林鄭月娥引用《緊急情況規例條例》訂立《禁止蒙面規例》違憲。

眾籌金額﹕

我們預計雙方在整個訴訟的開支將高達500萬元。我們24名民主派議員會先集資150萬元，以示承擔。餘下的款項，將透過眾籌平台向所有香港人募捐。我們的眾籌目標為385萬港元（包括350萬元和眾籌平台收取約10%即約35萬元手續費）。

資金運用及監察：

眾籌所得的款項將用於支持民主派議員在高等法院原訟庭、高等法院上訴庭以及終審法院提出司法覆核的開支。開支包括聘請法律界專業人士提供意見（包括本地及海外）及代表出庭；以及一旦敗訴而法庭裁定民主派議員須支付政府一方的訴訟費用。

我們已經邀得第三方大律師及會計師擔任款項信託人，包括繆亮先生（會計界選委、大律師）、韋志堅博士（會計界選委、會計師）及鄭皓朗先生（會計界選委、會計師）。信託人將定期向公眾匯報眾籌情況、工作進度及財務狀況；並每兩個月發布經會計師審核的賬目，直至整個司法覆核案件完結為止。我們將以公開、透明的原則，向公眾交代收入及支出，確保眾籌款項符合眾籌的目的。

在完全支付司法覆核的律師費用後，若有餘款，將均分捐予「612人道支援基金」及「守護公義基金」。

*感謝公民黨借出Stripe及PayPal戶口收取款項，所有眾籌所得款項將轉往並存放在律師樓戶口之中。

Crowdfunding Statement

The fight against an “evil law”: Overturning the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation

Beginning in June, with their blood, sweat and tears Hongkongers have finally forced Carrie Lam to officially withdraw the Extradition Bill. Nevertheless, the protests will persist until all five demands of Hongkongers are met.

Under the illusion that by outlawing face covering the determination of Hongkongers would wane and that the crisis which she created would come to an end, Carrie Lam’s administration invoked the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to enact the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation on 4^th October.

Carrie Lam withdrew an evil law only to push two others. She has bypassed normal legislative procedures and disregarded the Legislative Council’s constitutional powers and responsibilities to scrutinise legislations. This violation of people’s right to personal freedom and safety is completely unacceptable, and has set a terrible precedent. The Pandora’s Box that is the Emergency Regulations Ordinance has now been opened, the SAR government is set to become a dictatorship, wherein the Chief Executive can arbitrarily bypass the Legislative Council and enact additional evil laws which clearly undermine human rights and civil liberties.

We, the 24 pro-democracy legislators, filed a judicial review on 5^th October to urgently suspend the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation. We seek the court’s determination that the Emergency Regulations Ordinance is unconstitutional, so as to invalidate the Regulation and prohibit the government from introducing any further emergency regulations. We expect the legal fight will cost a fortune as most likely it will need to go all the way to the Court of Final Appeal; and if we lose, we may have to pay the government side's sky-high legal costs. The estimated legal cost of both parties is HK$5,000,000. We 24 legislators cannot fight this case alone; your support will be essential.

Many a little makes a mickle. We therefore launch this crowdfunding project to fight against the evil laws together with all Hongkongers.

Goal:

To raise funds for the litigation costs of the judicial review, with the aim that the court will declare Carrie Lam’s enactment of the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation by using the Emergency Regulations Ordinance unconstitutional.

Crowdfunding amount:

The estimation of both parties’ legal cost is HK$5,000,000. We the 24 pro-democracy legislators have raised HK$1,500,000 amongst ourselves. Our target is to raise a further HK$3,850,000 (HK$3,500,000 for litigation costs, and HK$350,000 as the 10% administrative fees charged by the crowdfunding platform).

Fund use and supervision:

The funds raised will be used to pay for the costs of the judicial review at the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal, and Court of Final Appeal. The costs include legal advice by local and overseas legal experts, legal costs and disbursements at trial, and the cost of the government’s side in case that we lose and that we are required to pay.

Mr. Nelson Miu (Barrister, Election Committee member (Accountancy)), Dr. Victor Wai (Accountant, Election Committee member (Accountancy)) and Mr. Cheng Ho-long (Accountant, Election Committee member (Accountancy)) have been appointed to act as the trustees of the funds. The trustees will make regular reports to the public on the progress of the crowdfunding, progress of the judicial review, and the financial status. An audited account will be released every two months until the judicial review is complete. We will commit to the principles of openness and transparency in accounting for all incomes and expenditures, and ensure all funds raised are used in accordance with the purpose of the crowdfunding.

After settling all costs, remaining funds, if any, will be split equally and donated to the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund and the Justice Defense Fund.

*We thank the Civic Party for letting us use their Stripe and PayPal account to receive the donations, which will be transferred to the account in law firm.