Top Australian judge studies Judiciary pay

A prominent Australian judge has been appointed by the Chief Justice to carry out an in-depth study into how judges' salaries should be determined.

Sir Anthony Mason, former chief justice of Australia and a Court of Final Appeal judge, will be responsible for studying methods used in other countries and helping draw up proposals to be put to the Government. His fee for completing the study, which he has just started, is $700,000.

Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang told the South China Morning Post he would consult all judges on the proposals.

'We hope he will complete his study early next year,' he said.

Judges and magistrates have not been included in the proposed civil service pay cut. But traditionally their salaries have been linked to those of civil servants.

Mr Justice Li said: 'The exclusion of the judges from the pay reduction, I think, is recognition by the administration of the independent status of the Judiciary.' But he added: 'We must be concerned with the question: if we are not linked with the civil servants, as in the past, then what criteria should be used?'

Sir Anthony, who has been involved in key abode rulings in Hong Kong, was picked for the consultancy job 'because of his wide experience as chief justice of Australia and his many links with and knowledge of common law jurisdictions' Mr Justice Li said.