香港律師會將於下周二（24日）改選5個理事席位，被稱為是「開明派」的其中一人羅彰南 (Jonathan Ross)，今日 (21日) 突發表聲明宣布退選，是考慮到個人及家人的安全，聲明亦指出：「我們敬重的律師會理事選舉落得如此水平，是香港可恥和悲傷的一天。」

律師會會長彭韻僖書面回應傳媒時指，會認真看待恐嚇的指控，已就該事件向警方報案，同時亦建議候選人向警方報案。

羅彰南發退選聲明 憂家人安全

下周二 (24日) 香港律師會改選5個理事席位，今日 (21日) 被稱為「開明派」的候選人羅彰南，突然向傳媒發表退選聲明，其中主要是因考慮到他與家人的安全，所以決定退選。羅同時亦呼籲，所有律師會會員出席下周二傍晚6時15分，律師會舉行的會員改選大會，在自由和開放的選舉中，給心儀候選人投下寶貴的一票。

羅彰南於聲明中表示，今次退選跟近日有傳媒報道，羅曾與內地最高人民法院法官交談5分鐘的指控無關。羅坦言，當時曾與內地法官談及一宗涉及羅公司的案件，其間並無談及案件細節。羅又指，律師會於2019年曾接獲投訴，經過調查後並沒有發現羅有不恰當之處。

羅彰南的聲明亦強調，無論今次改選的結果如何，肯定香港律師會將一如以往的專業，繼續團隊運作。

律師會會長：須保障選舉的公平性和透明度

律師會會長彭韻僖回應傳媒時指，已接獲其中一名候選人通知收到恐嚇，律師會亦已即時向警方報案，並建議候選人遇到恐嚇應向警方報案。彭又指，律師會必認真看待所有恐嚇的指控，任何選舉的公平性和透明度均必須受到保障。彭續指，律師會並沒有任何退選機制，所以後選人退出選舉，將不影響選舉程序進行。

中共喉舌與港府官員頻向律師會施壓 



在律師會改選前，特首林鄭月娥17日批評，如果律師會政治化，政府將要重新審視與律師會的關係與合作。律政司司長鄭若驊16日也發表網誌，警告律師會「保持專業而非政治化」。《人民日報》上周六（14日）發表評論文章，警告律師會要「搞專業不搞政治」，並要「與反中亂港分子劃清界線」，以免像教協一樣喪失特區政府的認可。

羅彰南的英文聲明，全文如下：

1. For my safety, and the safety of my family, I am announcing my intention to withdraw my name as a candidate for re-election to the Council of the Law Society of Hong Kong.
2. I urge all members of the Law Society who have not yet voted to attend the AGM at the Convention Centre beginning at 6:15pm on Tuesday and vote for the candidates of their choice in a free and open election.
3. My withdrawal is not related to certain allegations that have been publicized in the press concerning a five minute conversation I had in a public setting with a PRC Supreme Court judge.  During a lunch I mentioned to Judge Gao Xiaoli that a case in which my company was involved as plaintiff had waited over a year before coming to trial.  That was the end of the conversation and no details were given about the case.  It was totally appropriate.  Nevertheless, for unknown reasons, a complaint was filed with the Law Society in 2019.  It was thoroughly investigated by the Society and of course no impropriety was found.
4. Whoever wins the election, I am sure that the Society will continue working as the professional body it has always been.  I fail to understand the level of fear that our candidacies have engendered in certain quarters.
5. It is a shameful and sad day for Hong Kong that an election for Council of our honorable institution has sunk to this level.
6. Being on Council has meant a huge investment in time and effort to prepare for and attend so many meetings.  I look forward to an easier life in future.  We must thank all those on Council for the contributions they make. 
7. Enquiries from the media will be entertained after the results of the election are announced.
 
Jonathan Ross
August 21, 2021 @

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