Arthur Leong ends his distinguished career with a light-hearted last sitting
After more than 30 years as one of the stoic faces of Hong Kong's justice system, the outgoing Chief Judge of the High Court let the mask slip during his farewell sitting with invited guests yesterday.
A packed courtroom erupted into peals of laughter as Mr Justice Arthur Leong Shiu-chung shared tales from his distinguished career.
Mr Justice Leong said he started life in the judiciary by composing new laws for Hong Kong in the early 1970s.
'The fine art of legislative drafting was, so I was taught, no more than copying from other jurisdictions without letting others know you are copying,' he said.
'And remembering always to delete the words 'this Act does not apply to Northern Ireland' when copying from English statutes.'
From there, he moved to the magistracy in 1973 after being persuaded with the words: 'You are not obliged to go unless you wish to do so but any refusal may be recorded in writing and may be used in future.'