Upholding justice, only then can we give a voice to the vulnerable

—— Interview with Yu Hong, Director of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm

Yu Hong, Director of Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm, an outstanding lawyer in Liaoning Province, graduated with a bachelor's degree in law from China University of Political Science and Law, a national second-level lawyer, began practicing law in 1987, a member of the China Law Society, an expert lawyer in criminal and civil law in Liaoning Province, vice president of Chaoyang City Lawyers Association, head of Lingyuan Tongxin Lawyer Service Team, a member of the 4th and 5th CPPCC of Lingyuan City, a representative of the 6th People's Congress of Lingyuan City, currently a standing committee member of the 11th CPPCC of Chaoyang City, vice president of Lingyuan City Law Society, and a member of the Municipal People's Congress Supervisory and Judicial Committee. Selected as a lawyer in the "China Yearbook". Excellent lawyer in the "China Legal Yearbook". In 2007, Yu Hong was awarded the title of special guest by Liaoning TV and has been providing legal program cases for local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations, sending lawyers to promote legal knowledge and deeply participating in legal publicity. Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm was rated as a civilized law firm in Chaoyang City in 2003 and was selected as an excellent law firm in Liaoning Province by the Provincial Department of Justice in 2004. In 2018, it was rated as an excellent law firm in Liaoning Province by the Liaoning Provincial Lawyers Association. In addition, Blue Star Law Firm has also trained many judges for the court and is known as a judge training base.

From the moment he touched the Constitution and swore in front of the national emblem, Yu Hong undoubtedly committed his life to the sacred profession of law. Holding the "Sword of Justice", it is difficult for him to clearly state which party's interests he is protecting. Lawyers are loyal to the law, and what they need to do is to ensure that every citizen enjoys the dignity of being a person and protects their own interests under the free sunlight. Just as Yu Hong, as a legal advisor to a real estate company, has also fought many rights protection lawsuits for citizens and the company. If there is a hint of reluctance or selfishness, the oath he loudly read back then to be objective and fair would surely make him restless. And now, Yu Hong, who is deeply loved by the masses, has proven with facts that all the way, in defending the law, he has always been impartial, unafraid of power, and just!

Legal publicity, a connection with the law

Yu Hong's connection with the law, although tortuous, is also logical. After graduating from high school, he changed many jobs, none of which sparked his interest, or rather, his young heart had not found a place that could ignite his passion. The turning point came during a legal publicity event. In the 1980s, the legal process in our country was quite sluggish, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe it as riddled with holes. Ordinary people did not understand the law, did not know the law, and could not even talk about how to abide by it. Small cases that violated legal boundaries occurred repeatedly, and they urgently needed to grasp some legal knowledge closely related to their lives. In response to this situation, legal publicity work urgently needed knowledgeable individuals to express their passion. Yu Hong loved reading in his youth, had some knowledge, and was relatively steady. Coupled with his own love for the law, he became a legal publicity officer. Due to his previous lack of understanding of the law, Yu Hong could only learn legal knowledge while educating the public. This practice of integrating knowledge and action allowed Yu Hong's understanding and learning of the law to progress by leaps and bounds. The public's thirst for legal knowledge also deeply moved Yu Hong. Every time he gave a lecture, people gathered around. Through Yu Hong's patient explanations and answers, everyone understood their obligation to support the elderly, learned how to protect themselves in marriage, and understood how to safeguard their legal rights in disputes. Seeing the smiles on everyone's faces as they gained knowledge during this process also encouraged Yu Hong. The local government recognized Yu Hong's outstanding achievements, and all of this gave him more confidence in the future as he progressed together with everyone.

Next, having determined the path of law, Yu Hong enrolled in the China National Lawyer Correspondence Center for systematic legal study, and then passed the self-study examination to enter a legal college. He did not stop pursuing his goals and successfully entered the law undergraduate program at China University of Political Science and Law. Interest is the best teacher, and it was indeed interest that gave Yu Hong the perseverance to persist. Although studying law is certainly tedious and difficult, legal work is not easy either. In 1987, Yu Hong officially stepped onto the lawyer's stage. As a newcomer, he quickly discovered the challenges of this job. Because of his young age and lack of experience, many clients were unwilling to choose Yu Hong as their defender, which is understandable. Litigation is no small matter, and no one is willing to entrust their most valued matters to an "unknown quantity"—after all, no one is willing to take the risk of failure. In addition to the distrust from clients, the judicial department also showed indifference to the young Yu Hong. The difficulties encountered in the early stages of work did not scare Yu Hong. Young and vigorous, he was determined to achieve results and give a resounding response to those who looked down on him. He diligently did the foundational work, especially the previous legal publicity work, which was treated as a work priority. In 1989, due to his outstanding performance, Yu Hong was awarded the title of National Advanced Individual in Legal Publicity Education by the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Justice, and was awarded a third-class merit medal. Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. His long-term steady work ability was finally recognized by everyone, and the successful cases he represented made Yu Hong the first choice lawyer in everyone's mind.

The accumulation of cases deepened Yu Hong's understanding of the law and gave him new goals for the legal affairs he was engaged in. In 1992, Yu Hong contacted several lawyer colleagues, and with the approval of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Justice, established Linghe Law Firm. Having stepped out of the system, Yu Hong hoped to have more freedom in his legal endeavors. In 1995, Linghe Law Firm was renamed Blue Star Law Firm. Since its establishment, the law firm has made significant breakthroughs in criminal defense, civil and commercial agency, long-term legal consulting, and non-litigation fields, especially in administrative litigation, where it is known for safeguarding the legal rights of vulnerable groups, unafraid of power, speaking out fairly, and daring to confront challenges, receiving widespread praise from society. Yu Hong has also painted a clear and magnificent legal picture on his own "blue star map".

Embracing a broad vision, resolving disputes

From an individual's professional career, we can see his professional character and temperament. In tracing Yu Hong's thirty years of practice, a lawyer's image who is unafraid of power and advocates for the people becomes increasingly clear. Moreover, in handling specific affairs, Yu Hong has an excellent overall perspective, maintaining social stability and making serious conflicts disappear into thin air is his "specialty".

In July 2010, drought caused a tight urban water supply in Lingyuan City. To solve the water supply problem, the government introduced a plan to drill wells for water supply in rural areas. However, during the implementation phase, villagers believed that it infringed on their interests by tapping into the water resources from their land, and thus firmly opposed the drilling. Later, the government, in handling the issue, acted without consideration, deploying police for intervention, which escalated the conflict, ultimately leading to a standoff between over three thousand citizens and the police, and even resulting in varying degrees of conflict, causing over forty injuries and having a very negative impact.

Yu Hong was temporarily assigned to mediate on-site. Upon arrival, he found thousands of people holding various farming tools, unwilling to give way. The atmosphere was so tense that a single match could ignite it. Most people would have been intimidated by such a scene, but Yu Hong came with legal principles, which gave him confidence. At the scene, Yu Hong discovered a woman lying on the ground, with clear footprints on her white T-shirt, indicating she was seriously injured. He asked why she wasn't sent to the hospital, and the government replied that they were afraid the villagers would play tricks. Seeing the staff handle the issue this way, Yu Hong was both anxious and angry, quickly calling 120 to send the injured person to the hospital. This action calmed the villagers' emotions, and Yu Hong took the opportunity to propose that the villagers send representatives to negotiate with the government. Since the previous representatives had been detained by the police, no one dared to be the 'first bird.' Yu Hong, frustrated, assured everyone that he would take full responsibility for their personal safety and educated them on the basic legal knowledge that land and water resources belong to the state, helping the villagers gain a clear understanding of their reasonable rights.

Later, the representatives sent by the villagers negotiated with the relevant government personnel, ultimately reaching a mutually satisfactory conclusion, and Yu Hong also fought for the villagers' rightful interests. Because of his brave actions and reasonable handling of conflicts, Yu Hong was recognized as a model figure in Lingyuan City that year.

Another incident occurred during a Hui people's protest in Huludao. The incident began when a Hui person exchanged harsh words with netizens online, and when they met, they ended up fighting due to deception. During detention, the police violated the dietary customs of the Hui friends, leading to strong dissatisfaction among the local Hui community, who demanded a million yuan in compensation. After being refused, they contacted nearly five thousand Hui people in Ningxia to prepare for a local protest. Before the protest, a leader approached Yu Hong to inquire about its feasibility. Upon hearing this, Yu Hong felt the situation was a bit tricky and quickly advised against it. He explained that protests not approved by the government are illegal, especially on such a large scale. Aside from the negative impact, their demands would not be met; instead, it could cause greater harm to themselves. If the situation escalated, the origin of the incident would surely be exaggerated, which would damage everyone's national pride. The leader, aware of the disgraceful origin, recognized Yu Hong's advice as rational and agreed to let Yu Hong act as a defense lawyer, using formal channels to sue the police for their improper actions, ultimately receiving compensation.

As the ancients said, a three-inch tongue can resist a million troops. Yu Hong acted like a chivalrous hero, standing in front of the crowd, using peaceful means, and resolving a massive conflict with his objectivity and empathy. Imagine if Yu Hong had not intervened in time; the social impact, ethnic conflicts, and even international public opinion pressure resulting from this protest would have been unbearable.

Speaking for the people, impartial and selfless.

Yu Hong is known for his straightforwardness. To solve the issues of the parties involved, he does not fear standing against public authority. Regardless of the obstacles and pressures he faces, he remains unrepentant. His lifelong goal is to place public authority and private rights on the same line. A friend of Yu Hong, though harsh in his evaluation, objectively stated that over the years, Yu Hong has offended many useful people while maintaining some useless ones. Yu Hong's response is that lawyers must speak for the vulnerable groups; they are the ones who need lawyers the most. The law is also their weapon to counter unreasonable public authority, and lawyers are their steadfast defenders.

Yu Hong speaks out for ordinary people and earns their respect. He was elected as a representative to advise the government. At government hearings on regulations, Yu Hong takes careful notes and thoughtfully considers their rationality, providing rational suggestions based on actual situations. For instance, during a policy hearing on taxi licenses, when high fees were proposed, Yu Hong was the first to voice his dissent. He argued that to better manage the chaos of unlicensed taxis, the entry fees must be lowered, which would benefit both the city's image and public safety. With Yu Hong leading the way, more representatives felt encouraged to express their true opinions, ultimately leading to modifications in taxi policies that significantly lowered entry barriers. Although this harmed the interests of certain departments, it provided more laid-off workers with re-employment opportunities and greatly improved the situation with unlicensed taxis.

After thirty years in practice, Yu Hong has earned numerous honors through his professional responsibility: in 1988, he was awarded as an advanced individual by the Chaoyang Municipal Government; in 2003, he was recognized as one of the top ten lawyers in Chaoyang City by the Chaoyang Judicial Bureau; in March 2008, he was again named one of the top ten lawyers in Chaoyang City; in January 2009, he was recognized as one of the top ten outstanding judicial administrative workers by the Chaoyang Political and Legal Committee. In 2011, he was named an excellent lawyer in Chaoyang City, and in 2014, the Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm was selected as an excellent law firm in Liaoning Province by the provincial department. In January 2016, Yu Hong was named one of the top ten outstanding honest lawyers in China in 2015 by the People's Daily's "People's Livelihood Weekly" and CCTV's "Discovery Journey," and the Liaoning Blue Star Law Firm was recognized as one of the most promising law firms in China. In 2017, Yu Hong was rated as a second-level lawyer. Faced with numerous honors, Yu Hong remains calm, stating that honors represent the past and only indicate that the direction taken was correct; the distance he wishes to travel further is determined by today and tomorrow.

Many people often praise Yu Hong for his high efficiency in handling cases. Yu Hong humorously self-deprecates, saying he is merely a skilled worker of the law. A lawyer's work relies on continuous learning and experience, and he still maintains the habit of reading. However, now as a well-known lawyer, Yu Hong handles over a hundred cases a year, averaging one every two to three days, leaving him no leisure time. Although he can no longer read as thoroughly as before due to his busy schedule, he has a good memory and retains impressions of the books he has skimmed, making it easier to reference them when needed.

When local legislation is being considered in Chaoyang City, Yu Hong is often the first person thought of and invited to serve as a legislative consulting expert, reflecting the belief in his deep understanding of the law. For example, during the formulation of regulations for mine vegetation restoration, Yu Hong emphasized that once the legislative process is established, it is difficult to modify, so the legal language must be precise, and considerations must be comprehensive. Regulations carry seriousness and should not be changed hastily. He noted that when setting fines, overly precise regulations are problematic; the law should include vague language, allowing for flexible handling based on circumstances. After Yu Hong's revisions and edits, the regulations were logically clear and legally accurate, leading to their eventual promulgation and implementation.

Eagerly looking forward to jointly promoting the rule of law.

As a lawyer, serving society means that anyone who comes to the door is placing their trust in the lawyer and needs diligent representation to protect their rights. This is the survival rule for lawyers. Sometimes, the client may not be a traditional 'good person,' but lawyers must respond with the most professional attitude. Yu Hong states that lawyers do not speak for bad people; rather, they fear wronging a good person. It is the lawyer's duty to ensure that every citizen lives with dignity.

Yu Hong said that there is justice only with law, and there is civilization only with justice. The civilization of society is based on the construction of the legal system, and lawyers, as representatives of the law, have also become the bottom line of social conscience. Due to the "80/20 principle" of interest and ability distribution (i.e., 20% of people control 80% of the income and resources in the industry), some lawyers may lose their bottom line and sell their conscience. As early as the 1980s and 1990s, some people boasted that they could guarantee the release of prisoners for 50,000 yuan, which deeply shocked the young Yu Hong at that time. He vowed to stay away from the red line, not seeking to be a model in the industry, but only seeking inner peace.

Litigation brings joy to some and sorrow to others; the losing party inevitably harbors resentment towards the winning lawyer. One of the most impressive moments for Yu Hong was one night when a motorcycle suddenly rushed in front of him while he was walking alone. Yu Hong recognized the rider as a criminal he had sent to prison a year and a half ago, who was clearly looking for an opportunity for revenge. What surprised that person was that Yu Hong showed no signs of panic and stared at him intently. From Yu Hong's eyes, he seemed to see authority and righteousness, and he turned around and left without saying a word. Afterward, Yu Hong said that what gave him courage was his own justice and fairness; he handled cases with laws to rely on and with reason and emotion. This confidence is something that petty individuals cannot fake.

Today, Yu Hong is dedicated to building a team of lawyers. He hopes to create a platform for lawyers through the internet to share knowledge and experience, aiming to make the lawyer team in our country "elite" and improve their moral and professional standards, thus contributing to the advancement of the legal construction process in our country. In addition, Yu Hong advocates for the reform of the lawyer system. He proposed that in the future, the costs of both parties in a lawsuit should be borne by the losing party. This not only raises higher requirements for the level of lawyers, allowing excellent lawyers to benefit, but also increases the cost of crime for the violating party. During the interview, Yu Hong also mentioned advice for young lawyers, which is actually a true reflection of himself. "Be a conscientious legal worker, have your own bottom line, do not create wrongful convictions, think for society with your true thoughts, voice for vulnerable groups, contribute to social progress, and strive for the development of social civilization!" (Text by Hu Ying)