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Former Hong Kong chief justice calls departure of 3 overseas judges ‘most regrettable’

  • Andrew Li, who served as city’s first chief justice after handover, also stresses importance of moving forward instead of ‘dwelling on the past’

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The former chief justice has also said the courts are responsible for safeguarding national security under the law and duty-bound to adjudicate all cases fairly and impartially. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s first chief justice following the handover has described the departure of three overseas non-permanent judges from the city’s top court as “most regrettable”.

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Andrew Li Kwok-nang, who held the office from 1997 to 2010, also said on Tuesday that the judges had made valuable contributions to Hong Kong.

Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, the incumbent chief justice, on the same day expressed his “every confidence” that local appeal courts would continue to act with integrity and professionalism.

Li and Cheung’s remarks were prompted by the departure of three overseas non-permanent judges from the Court of Final Appeal in a week.

The judiciary announced earlier on Tuesday that Canadian judge Beverley McLachlin would retire from the top court once her term expired in July, days after British judges Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins said they would step down.

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Sumption on Monday also wrote an opinion piece that argued the city’s rule of law was “profoundly compromised”.

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