West must stop putting ‘inappropriate pressure’ on Hong Kong’s foreign judges: official

Deputy justice secretary issues call after Nicholas Addison Phillips becomes fifth foreign justice to leave city’s top court this year

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Hong Kong, the only common law jurisdiction in China, is permitted to recruit judges from elsewhere under the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 2:32pm, 5 Oct 2024Updated: 8:13pm, 5 Oct 2024

Western politicians should stop putting “inappropriate pressure” on overseas judges serving in Hong Kong, a deputy minister has said after a British justice became the fifth foreigner to step down from the city’s top court this year.

The call from Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan on Saturday followed the recent departure of Nicholas Addison Phillips, a non-permanent judge who had served on the Court of Final Appeal since 2012.

“In recent years we’ve noticed that some foreign countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, have exerted inappropriate pressure on our non-permanent judges,” Cheung said.

“There were indeed some non-permanent judges deciding to quit over the past two years due to many different reasons such as personal ones. But they, including the incumbents, all had a high regard and recognition for Hong Kong’s rule of law.

“I hope these overseas politicians stop attacking or attempting to undermine our rule of law.”

Phillips, 86, decided not to extend his term after it ended on Monday, citing “personal reasons”.

Earlier this year, Australian Anthony Gleeson, 86, chose not to renew his tenure when it expired on February 29, and Canadian Beverley McLachlin, 81, retired from the court at the end of her term on July 29.