Kim-hung, Ryan Law, Chan Pui-man, Lam Man-chung, Fung Wai-kong, and Yeung Ching-kee, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit collusion . Their case was heard by a panel of three handpicked national security judges. Some defendants are said to be testifying in the upcoming trial against Lai. Jimmy Lai had decided that he will not plea not guilty early in August. Lai later hired British barrister and top British human rights lawyer Tim Owen to handle his case. The Secretary for Justice and the Bar Association first objected such decision during a case management hearing in September. Two later appeals by the Department of Justice to Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal in October and November were all denied, citing public interest and general principle. Before decisions of the Court of Final Appeal was delivered, state media attacked the court's decision to let Owen represent Lai, quoting one pro-China figure as saying the hearing should be shifted to the mainland if necessary. The prospect of asking the Chinese authorities to "interpret" the national security law was also increasingly imminent as Beijing loyalists stepped up pressure, describing as the only way to do so if the court ruled in favour of Lai. In September 2022, the HKBA opposed an attempt by Jimmy Lai to hire a lawyer from the UK, stating "the well established criteria for admitting overseas counsel on an ad hoc basis are not met." In October 2022, the High Court refuted the HKBA, and allowed Lai to hire a UK lawyer. In November 2022, the government lost its case in the Court of Final Appeal, paving the way for Lai to hire Tim Owen. On 28 November, the Court of Final Appeal rejected another appeal by the Department of Justice and ruled in favour of Jimmy Lai to use Owen, as Justice Secretary Paul Lam failed to justify his claim of countering foreign interference through banning overseas counsels. Hours later, Chief Executive John Lee recommended the National People's Congress to interpret the law. The Chinese authorities joined the pro-Beijing camp to slam the court, criticising the court's verdict as violating the "legislative spirit" and "legal logic" of the NSL which shall be on high alert. Victor Dawes of the HKBA commented that people should wait for the NPCSC to make its decision before commenting on its impact. Dawes also commented "I do understand the