Another foreign judge at Hong Kong’s top court steps down citing ‘personal reasons’
Nicholas Addison Phillips, 86, is fifth foreign judge to leave city’s top court this year
An 86-year-old British judge has stepped down from Hong Kong’s top court at the end of his term, becoming the fifth foreign justice to do so this year.
But the judiciary issued assurances that the Court of Final Appeal’s daily operations would not be affected by the latest personnel changes, despite its steady caseload.
Nicholas Addison Phillips, a non-permanent judge at the Court of Final Appeal since 2012, decided not to extend his term, which ended on Monday, citing “personal reasons”, according to the judiciary.
“He indicated recently that he did not wish to have his term of appointment extended upon its expiry on 30 September 2024 due to personal reasons,” it said in a written reply to the Post.
The judiciary extended gratitude to Phillips for his “valuable contribution” to the court and his support for the rule of law in Hong Kong over his 12-year tenure.
“Despite the departure of some non-permanent judges in recent years, an overwhelming majority of the serving and departed non-permanent judges have publicly reiterated their continued confidence in judicial independence in Hong Kong and the commitment of the Hong Kong courts towards upholding the rule of law,” the judiciary added.
