Cowardly attacks on Hong Kong judges must stop for the sake of the rule of law

Hong Kong’s judges have become accustomed to facing complaints and abuse as they rule on hundreds of high-profile cases arising from the city’s civil unrest in 2019. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, in his first speech after taking up the job in January, said judges hearing cases with political overtones would often come under intense scrutiny and their decisions would almost always be subject to “partisan criticism”.

But while free speech was to be respected, he said, there must be no attempt to exert improper pressure on judges. Cheung stressed that threats of violence “are as futile as they are reprehensible”. His words deserve renewed attention. Letters containing a corrosive substance were sent to judges three times in a week.

They prompted evacuations and the bomb squad was called. Thankfully no one was hurt. These appalling attempts to intimidate the judiciary cannot be tolerated. They are a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.

Last week, a threatening letter was sent to West Kowloon Court. It contained caustic soda, a highly corrosive substance that can cause burns. It was addressed to Kathie Cheung Kit-yee, a District Court judge who last month jailed five students from Chinese University for their part in a violent campus protest two years ago.

The judge was targeted again this week, with another letter containing the substance. On the same day, Magistrate Pang Leung-ting received a similar delivery at Sha Tin Court. Pang recently jailed two protesters for assaulting police.