Hong Kong leaders on Friday expressed their regret over the resignation of two UK judges from the city’s top court, saying the operation of the judicial system will not be affected.
The Judiciary confirmed on Thursday night that Lawrence Collins and Jonathan Sumption, two UK non-permanent judges serving at the Court of Final Appeal, have submitted their resignations to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.
Lee expressed regret at the resignation in a brief response issued hours following the justice department’s announcement.
To plug the loophole of Hong Kong’s near-vacuum of national security laws at the time, the central government promulgated and implemented the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and the SAR also enacted the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Lee said
Lee noted that Collins had stated that he continued to “have the fullest confidence in the Court and the total independence of its members”.
As Collins attributed the “political situation in Hong Kong” as a main reason for his resignation, Lee stressed that the large-scale riots and the “color revolution” in 2019 seriously threatened national security and the safety of the special administrative region.
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To plug the loophole of Hong Kong’s near-vacuum of national security laws at the time, the central government promulgated and implemented the National Security Law for Hong Kong, and the SAR also enacted the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Lee said.
He underscored that Hong Kong has transitioned from chaos to order, and the human rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law have not changed and will continue to be safeguarded by the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as other laws.
“The only difference is that national security is now better safeguarded, the safety and stability of Hong Kong is now better upheld, and residents’ good living and working environment is now better ensured,” he added.
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In a separate statement, Chief Justice of Court of Final Appeal (CFA) Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, said since the CFA’s establishment in 1997, overseas non-permanent judges, including Collins and Sumption, have made valuable contributions to the work of the Court.
Cheung reiterated the Judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong guaranteed under the Basic Law, adding that all judges and judicial officers will continue to abide by the Judicial Oath and administer justice in full accordance with the law, without fear or favor, self-interest or deceit.
Cheung said he has complete confidence that the CFA will continue to fully perform its constitutional role as the final appellate court in Hong Kong and its operation will not be affected by any change in membership of the Court.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the Department of Justice is grateful for the two judges’ past contribution.
Lam affirmed that the resignations will not impair the department’s determination and confidence in upholding the rule of law, including the independent judicial power exercised by the courts.
