On his retirement, Conrad Seagroatt urges the government to take action
A senior judge has marked his retirement by calling on the government to better support the independence of the judiciary.
Conrad Seagroatt, a High Court judge for eight years and British Queen's Counsel, told the South China Morning Post he was concerned that the judiciary was increasingly being seen as just another part of the civil service and believes action has to be taken to put this right.
'I think what the government does not have clearly, and certainly does not state clearly, is that it accepts the judiciary as an independent institution, vital to the constitution of Hong Kong,' said the judge. 'It must break away from this bureaucratic view. Historically, there have been conflicts between the judiciary and the government ... I am concerned. I think we have reached the point where some positive action or approach is called for.'
Mr Justice Seagroatt, speaking before leaving Hong Kong last week having reached the retirement age of 65, said the role of the judiciary in ensuring the survival of the rule of law was all the more important at a time of weak government.
Referring to the car purchase scandal involving former financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, the judge said: 'Any government which retains one of its ministers, having stated that such a person was grossly negligent, is a weak government.'
Mr Leung's offer to resign had initially been rejected by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.