LEGISLATORS insisted yesterday they had the power to endorse rather than simply rubber-stamp judicial appointments and dismissed fears that this could amount to interference with judicial independence.
Their remarks at a Legco panel meeting came as the Government prepared to put a motion later this month seeking legislators' approval for appointments to the Court of Final Appeal.
According to the Basic Law, the Chief Executive shall obtain legislators' endorsement for all appointments of such judges and the Chief Judge of the High Court, who are recommended by the Judicial Officers' Recommendation Commission (JORC).
For the sake of judicial independence, the administration yesterday recommended lawmakers endorse the appointments as a formality.
'Legco can veto the appointment only when the JORC and Chief Executive do not follow the procedure of the Basic Law,' Deputy Director of Administration Miranda Chiu Shung-kwok said.
But legislators argued they were empowered to lodge objections and should not merely be a rubber stamp. 'I was very surprised that we were recommended to be a rubber-stamp. Do we have to be mute on an appointment even if it is controversial?' asked Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier.