Two foreign female judges make history with appointments to Hong Kong’s top court
Local legal sector praises news of pioneering women who reached pinnacles of British and Canadian courts
Two pioneering women from Britain and Canada will join Hong Kong’s top court and become the first female non-permanent judges in the city’s judiciary.
Baroness Brenda Hale and Beverley McLachlin already made history in their native jurisdictions as the first female judges to head the top courts in Britain and Canada respectively. While Hale will be joining her former colleague Lord David Neuberger on the bench, it will mark the first time a Canadian chief justice has served.
Their presence will expand the count of foreign judges at the Court of Final Appeal from 12 to 14.
The historic appointment on Wednesday was accompanied by news that Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, chief judge of the High Court, would be promoted as a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal.
Hale, 73, is currently president of Britain’s Supreme Court and widely regarded as a liberal judge and champion of equality. Her coat of arms reads: “women are equal to everything”.