New Books Network Yan-ho Lai, "Legal Resistance Under Authoritarianism: The Struggle for the Rule of Law in Hong Kong" (Amsterdam UP, 2025)
Dec 16, 2025
Yan-ho Lai, a Senior Fellow at Georgetown's Centre for Asian Law, shares insights from his book on Hong Kong's legal resistance. He discusses the erosion of the rule of law under Beijing's interventions and the complex responses of lawyers who engage in pro bono work and public activism. Lai highlights the emotional weight of his research, which includes 77 interviews, and stresses the importance of lawyers in safeguarding institutions and fostering resilience against authoritarianism. His findings provide valuable lessons in the global struggle for legal autonomy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Gradual Erosion Predated The Security Law
- Hong Kong's rule of law eroded gradually long before the 2020 national security law.
- Beijing used legal interventions and united-front tactics to reshape legal norms and limit judicial independence.
How Lai Defines Rule Of Law
- Lai defines rule of law to include separation of powers and judicial independence from a liberal perspective.
- He argues Beijing's interventions since the handover steadily undermined Hong Kong's power equilibrium.
Lawyers Mobilized After Umbrella Movement
- After the 2014 Umbrella Movement some lawyers formed civil groups and did pro bono work for protesters.
- They also ran for Law Society and Bar Association positions to gain institutional resources for resistance.
