Two Senior British Judges have Resigned from Hong Kong’s Highest Court

Two senior British judges resigned from Hong Kong's top court, citing the city's political situation, raising concerns over eroding judicial independence under Beijing's crackdown.

Two British judges have resigned from Hong Kong’s top court due to the political crisis in the area.

The political conditions in Hong Kong have also been blamed for Lord Lawrence Collins who has been in the court since 2012 to resign. But he had confidence in the judiciary arm of the government. Another judge who resigned was the former UK Supreme Court justice, Lord Jonathan Sumption, who also stepped down but did not provide any explanation.

Their exits occurred after 14 prominent Hong Kong democracy activists were convicted of subversion last week under the new security legislation imposed by Beijing in 2020. The resignations have stoked more global concerns that the promised judicial impartiality in Hong Kong has been eroded by Beijing’s clampdown on liberty in the ex-British colony.

Since the handover of power in 1997, Hong Kong has maintained British common law as its legal system by having overseas judges from the Commonwealth nations in its highest court, known as the Court of Final Appeal. However, several chief Western jurists have now resigned from the court in a belief that the rule of law in Hong Kong is diminishing.

The government of Hong Kong has strongly endorsed the independence of the territory’s judiciary and the Chief Justice agreed that judges will do so ‘fear or favour’. However, critics have argued that the national security laws have proactively limited the rights and freedoms that were earlier protected in Hong Kong.

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The resignations are likely to raise more concerns over the independence of the Hong Kong legal system and the financial city that is built on the assurance of law.