PRESS RELEASE: The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong calls for the full and unequivocal resignations of the six UK judges who continue to serve on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal
Thursday 14th April – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) condemns the six UK judges who continue to serve on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. The decision is at odds with the principles of Western democracy.
In late March, President of the Supreme Court Lord Reed of Allermuir and Deputy President Lord Hodge stood down from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, citing China’s departure from the principles of political freedom and freedom of expression under the draconian National Security Law.
The UK judges who remain, Lord Sumption, Lord Hoffmann, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe and Lord Collins of Mapesbury, have defied calls to resign. The group released a joint statement outlining that by staying, they are acting in the best interest of Hong Kongers. How enabling human rights abuses and stripping away freedoms through the National Security Law is in their best interest is unfathomable.
The CFHK calls on the judges to stop enabling the Chinese Communist Party’s control of Hong Kong’s judicial system. To sit on the high court is to stand against freedom and democracy. The only ethical and honourable option is to resign.
President of the CFHK, Mark L. Clifford said:
“The Hong Kong legal system squanders the very liberties and freedoms that the British justice system acts to preserve. The six judges who continue to serve on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal must realise how the National Security Law erodes the freedoms of Hong Kongers.
“As Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has noted, ‘the situation has reached a tipping point where it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit’ on the high court. By choosing to stay, the judges legitimise oppression and the destruction of any semblance of a free society.”
In late March, President of the Supreme Court Lord Reed of Allermuir and Deputy President Lord Hodge stood down from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, citing China’s departure from the principles of political freedom and freedom of expression under the draconian National Security Law.
The UK judges who remain, Lord Sumption, Lord Hoffmann, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe and Lord Collins of Mapesbury, have defied calls to resign. The group released a joint statement outlining that by staying, they are acting in the best interest of Hong Kongers. How enabling human rights abuses and stripping away freedoms through the National Security Law is in their best interest is unfathomable.
The CFHK calls on the judges to stop enabling the Chinese Communist Party’s control of Hong Kong’s judicial system. To sit on the high court is to stand against freedom and democracy. The only ethical and honourable option is to resign.
President of the CFHK, Mark L. Clifford said:
“The Hong Kong legal system squanders the very liberties and freedoms that the British justice system acts to preserve. The six judges who continue to serve on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal must realise how the National Security Law erodes the freedoms of Hong Kongers.
“As Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has noted, ‘the situation has reached a tipping point where it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit’ on the high court. By choosing to stay, the judges legitimise oppression and the destruction of any semblance of a free society.”
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk