Two British judges announced their resignation as overseas non-permanent judges of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal earlier, and other overseas judges expressed their willingness to stay in office. One of them, Australian judge Kam Mu-yin, who had previously stated that he had no intention of resigning, was granted an administrative appointment today (6th). The Chief approved the extension. He and Justice Szeto King, who has served in the Hong Kong Judiciary for many years, were both granted the extension of their posts as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Justice. Both were granted an extension of three years.
The two will renew their term for three years starting in July and September this year
The Government today issued a press release stating that the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has accepted the proposal of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Cheung Chun-neng, to appoint a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal from other common law jurisdictions, namely Judge Kam Mu-yin from Australia, and non-permanent Hong Kong Judge Situ Jing. The term of office will be extended for three years, and the two will be extended for three years from July 29 and September 1 this year respectively.
Australian Judge Kam Muxian was born in Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney. He was appointed as a Queen's Barrister when he practiced in Australia, and was appointed to work in the Federal Court of Australia in 1986, where he served as a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
He has been a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal since 2013.
Born in Rhodesia, Judge Stuart King Law obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Liverpool, UK, and practised in the UK before moving to Hong Kong to work as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice.
He joined the Hong Kong Judiciary in 1991 as a Deputy High Court Judge and was a Vice-President of the Court of Appeal.
He became a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal in 2010.
Four Australian and Canadian judges who said they would stay.
(See the picture below for details)
Four judges from Australia and Canada agree to stay in office
The British Supreme Court President Wei Yande and Vice President He Zhiyi resigned as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal in March this year. The two were appointed to Hong Kong according to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong in the year of its return.
In addition to two, there are 10 overseas judges in Hong Kong, of which six are from the UK, three are from Australia and one is from Canada.
Among them, Gan Muxian and the other two Australian judges, Ji Lixin and Fan Liquan, have previously stated that they do not intend to resign, and the former chief female justice from Canada, McKaylin, also stated that she will continue to serve.
Five British judges who said they would stay.
(See the picture below for details)
5 British judges have issued a statement saying they will stay in office
The remaining six British judges not appointed by the British Supreme Court, five of them: He Fuming, Fan Lishen, Shun Yaoxin, Liao Bojia and Harris, have issued a joint statement indicating that they will continue to serve.
The term of office of non-permanent judges of the CFA is renewable for 3 years
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and judges from other common law jurisdictions.
The term of office of a non-permanent judge is three years. The Chief Executive may, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, extend the term of a non-permanent judge one or more times for three years each.
Li Guoneng, the two British judges who resigned, expressed regret: Will overseas judges participate in the final trial as much as the remaining overseas judges in the past?
4 Australian and Canadian judges indicated that 5 British judges will remain in the final court overseas judges say they will leave Hong Kong if the rule of law is damaged Judicial Independence Court of Final Appeal Overseas Judge Wei Yande: If it violates conscience and cannot continue to do so, he will resign
