Hong Kong legal system must be shown respect
Those who publicly attack the decisions of judges would do well to read their relevant rulings to find out just why they reached their legal conclusions
The ceremonial opening of the new legal year provides a valuable opportunity for the leaders of Hong Kong’s legal profession to comment on matters relevant to the court system and rule of law.
Various topical issues featured in the speeches this week, from the debate about a new rail link to proposals for raising the retirement age for judges. But a common theme, mentioned by legal chiefs, was the importance of the city’s independent judiciary and the need for it to be respected. This is not surprising after judges ruling in cases with political overtones were subjected to unjustified criticism and abuse.
The latest example saw Indian-born magistrate Bina Chainrai come under fire from supporters of a senior police officer she jailed for three months for beating a bystander with his baton during the Occupy protests of 2014.
Last year, judges who jailed student activists faced unwarranted allegations of political bias. Criticism has come from either one side of the political spectrum or the other, depending on the outcome of the case. This is a worrying manifestation of the political divisions that have arisen in the city.