The Final Court adds overseas judge︱Li Jiachao accepts the recommendation to appoint Qi Xianyi as a judge of the Macao High Court before retiring

Lord Robert Reed and Lord Patrick Hodge, the president and deputy president of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, resigned as overseas judges of the Court of Final Appeal in March last year.

After nine months, the overseas judges of the Final Court will have new members. Chief Executive Li Jiachao accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Personnel Recommendation Committee on the appointment of Australian judge Patrick Anthony Keane. If approved by the Legislative Council, the number of overseas judges of the Final Court will increase up to 11 people.

Qi Xianyi, 70, is a former judge of the High Court of Australia. He resigned in October last year due to the retirement age.

Appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1988, he specializes in commercial law, equity and constitutional law. He was the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

Mr Cheung Ju-neng, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, welcomes Lee Ka-chau to accept the recommendation.

Li Jiachao praised Qi Xianyi for his lofty status and outstanding reputation, and he firmly believed that he would make great contributions to the Final Court.

He pointed out that after Qi Xianyi was appointed, the overseas judges of the Final Court will include 11 outstanding judges from the UK, Australia, and Canada. The high level of confidence in Hong Kong's judicial system has also allowed Hong Kong to maintain close ties with other common law jurisdictions. It is believed that these outstanding overseas judges with rich judicial experience will continue to be a unique advantage of Hong Kong's judicial system.

The non-permanent judges of the Final Court are composed of Hong Kong judges and overseas judges. The maximum number of judges is 30. At present, there are 4 Hong Kong judges, including Bao Zhijin; and the number of overseas judges will increase to 11 after Qi Xianyi joins.

The Court of Final Court consists of five judges. In addition to the Chief Judge and three permanent judges, there will also be a non-permanent Hong Kong judge or a non-permanent overseas judge.

Overseas judge Cen Yiu-sin of the Final Court continued his term for three and a half years ago and chose to stay, saying that it was in the interests of Hong Kong people. Judge Li Guo-nang resigned and expressed regret: Overseas judges will not participate in the final adjudication as much as the remaining overseas judges in the past?

4 judges from Australia and Canada stated that they will stay 5 British judges jointly signed Tang Jiahua: Judicial independence does not need to rely on overseas judges The Association has lobbied the British Prime Minister to trigger overseas judges to jump ship?

The Bar Association hopes to continue to defend the rule of law. The Lawyers Association calls for withdrawing the resignation. Members question the necessity of overseas judges. Li Jiachao: the practice helps maintain trust and contact with the outside world The meeting will pass the appointment of Lin Wenhan as a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal to promote the review of the overseas judge system Overseas Judge Wei Yande of the Court of Final Appeal: If it violates conscience and cannot continue, he will resign from the Li Zhiying case︱3 more judges designated by the National Security Law of the Court of Final Appeal include Huo Zhaogang without overseas Judge