Hong Kong's justice minister says he will safeguard judicial independence

Hong Kong's justice minister yesterday refused to comment directly on a warning delivered by one of its most senior judges that "clouds heralding a storm of unprecedented ferocity" were gathering over the rule of law in the city.

Asked about the comments made last week by retiring permanent Court of Final Appeal judge Mr Justice Kemal Bokhary - who was reacting to statements made by former justice chief Elsie Leung Oi-sie - incumbent secretary for justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung would only say that the city's rule of law was strong and that he would "safeguard Hong Kong's judicial independence".

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Law Society's annual law week, Yuen said: "Like the judge [Bokhary] said on that day, the judicial system of Hong Kong, especially our judicial independence, has always been firmly in place, and would not be easily damaged because different people give opinions.

"But whatever the situation is, as the secretary for justice, I and my colleagues in the Department of Justice will always try our best to safeguard Hong Kong's judicial independence and the rule of law."

Earlier yesterday, Yuen told a passing-out parade of recruits at the Police College that the rule of law is "one of the cornerstones that Hong Kong's success relies on".

"Citizens can live and work happily, and investors do business without worries only in a society where the rule of law is protected," he said.