PRESS RELEASE: UK Government has announced the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, CFHK calls for the full and unequivocal resignations of remaining presiding judges
Wednesday 30th March – Today the UK Government has announced the withdrawal of serving UK judges from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, following discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, and the President of the Supreme Court.
The Government stated that British judges have played a crucial role in supporting the judicial system in Hong Kong for many years, however since the creation of the National Security Law in 2020, China has continued to use this law to undermine the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) has long condemned the role of British judges acting within the Hong Kong legal system. While today’s announcement is a welcome one, it is long overdue. British judges have acted as enablers of the Chinese Communist Party puppet Hong Kong legal system, serving to jail pro-democracy politicians and activists. Though the UK has taken a bold step today, it must go further to remove the stain of the injustices dished out under the noses of some of the UK’s most senior and experienced judges. Global Britain is a noble endeavour, yet it must be substantiated in actions not words.
Two British judges, Lord Robert Reed and Lord Patrick Hodge have since resigned, citing the National Security Law and erosion of political freedom. We find it surprising that two senior and highly educated judges had to be publicly directed to stop their work propping up the legal system of a brutal authoritarian government. For the remainder yet to resign, who we profiled through their involvement in cases against pro-democracy activists, we say: go now.
Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, said:
“We have seen a systematic erosion of liberty and democracy in Hong Kong. Since the National Security Law was imposed, authorities have cracked down on free speech, the free press and free association.
“The situation has reached a tipping point where it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit on Hong Kong’s leading court and would risk legitimising oppression. I welcome and wholeheartedly support the decision to withdraw British judges from the court.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, said:
“Since 2020 and the introduction of the National Security Law, our assessment of the situation in Hong Kong is that it has shifted too far from the freedoms that we hold dear – making free expression and honest critique of the state a criminal offence.
“This flies in the face of the handover agreement we have had with China since 1997 and. Having discussed at length with Foreign Secretary and the President of the Supreme Court, we regretfully agree that it is no longer appropriate for serving UK judges to continue sitting in Hong Kong courts.”
President of the UK Supreme Court, Lord Reed, said:
“The courts in Hong Kong continue to be internationally respected for their commitment to the rule of law.
“Nevertheless, I have concluded, in agreement with the government, that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, freedom of expression, to which the Supreme Court are deeply committed.”
President of the CFHK, Mark L. Clifford, said:
“This decision by the UK Government is overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy pro-democracy networks and jail activists and politicians is fundamentally at odds with the principles of a western democracy. The position of those judges before today’s announcement had become untenable since the imposition of the National Security Law.
“The CFHK fully endorses the decision by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and her colleagues to remove UK judges from a judicial system which seeks to repress the freedoms of the Hong Kong people. By making this decision, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to standing for freedoms in Hong Kong.
“We welcome the decision of judges who have since chosen to step down. For those yet to make the only viable, honourable and ethical decision available to them, we say: ‘go now’.”
The Government stated that British judges have played a crucial role in supporting the judicial system in Hong Kong for many years, however since the creation of the National Security Law in 2020, China has continued to use this law to undermine the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) has long condemned the role of British judges acting within the Hong Kong legal system. While today’s announcement is a welcome one, it is long overdue. British judges have acted as enablers of the Chinese Communist Party puppet Hong Kong legal system, serving to jail pro-democracy politicians and activists. Though the UK has taken a bold step today, it must go further to remove the stain of the injustices dished out under the noses of some of the UK’s most senior and experienced judges. Global Britain is a noble endeavour, yet it must be substantiated in actions not words.
Two British judges, Lord Robert Reed and Lord Patrick Hodge have since resigned, citing the National Security Law and erosion of political freedom. We find it surprising that two senior and highly educated judges had to be publicly directed to stop their work propping up the legal system of a brutal authoritarian government. For the remainder yet to resign, who we profiled through their involvement in cases against pro-democracy activists, we say: go now.
Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, said:
“We have seen a systematic erosion of liberty and democracy in Hong Kong. Since the National Security Law was imposed, authorities have cracked down on free speech, the free press and free association.
“The situation has reached a tipping point where it is no longer tenable for British judges to sit on Hong Kong’s leading court and would risk legitimising oppression. I welcome and wholeheartedly support the decision to withdraw British judges from the court.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, said:
“Since 2020 and the introduction of the National Security Law, our assessment of the situation in Hong Kong is that it has shifted too far from the freedoms that we hold dear – making free expression and honest critique of the state a criminal offence.
“This flies in the face of the handover agreement we have had with China since 1997 and. Having discussed at length with Foreign Secretary and the President of the Supreme Court, we regretfully agree that it is no longer appropriate for serving UK judges to continue sitting in Hong Kong courts.”
President of the UK Supreme Court, Lord Reed, said:
“The courts in Hong Kong continue to be internationally respected for their commitment to the rule of law.
“Nevertheless, I have concluded, in agreement with the government, that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom, freedom of expression, to which the Supreme Court are deeply committed.”
President of the CFHK, Mark L. Clifford, said:
“This decision by the UK Government is overdue. UK judges propping up a legal system in Hong Kong that is designed to target and destroy pro-democracy networks and jail activists and politicians is fundamentally at odds with the principles of a western democracy. The position of those judges before today’s announcement had become untenable since the imposition of the National Security Law.
“The CFHK fully endorses the decision by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and her colleagues to remove UK judges from a judicial system which seeks to repress the freedoms of the Hong Kong people. By making this decision, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to standing for freedoms in Hong Kong.
“We welcome the decision of judges who have since chosen to step down. For those yet to make the only viable, honourable and ethical decision available to them, we say: ‘go now’.”
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