Paparazzi target judge among SAR 4 honoured

The judge targeted by newspaper paparazzi was among four SAR people given awards in Britain's New Year's Honours List.

Named along with Mr Justice Gerald Godfrey was retired judge Mr Justice Henry Litton, businessman and philanthropist Eric Hotung and education expert Irving Koo Yee-yin.

Mr Justice Godfrey, 67, and Mr Justice Litton, 66, were both made Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the section for diplomats and overseas recipients.

Mr Justice Godfrey retired from the High Court in July after 13 years. In January last year, he was targeted by photographers from the Oriental Daily over critical comments he made in a ruling about paparazzi. A former editor of the newspaper was convicted and spent 81 days in jail over the harassment of Mr Justice Godfrey.

Mr Justice Litton retired from the Court of Final Appeal in August. He was born in Hong Kong and began his career as a barrister in 1960. In 1992, he became the first barrister to be appointed straight to the Court of Appeal. He was one of the judges who gave a controversial right-of-abode ruling last year which was later in effect overturned by Beijing.

Mr Hotung, the eldest grandson of legendary Jardines comprador Sir Robert Hotung, was awarded a CBE for his services to British charitable interests. Mr Hotung has recently been heavily involved in helping East Timorese refugees. His Hotung Institute for East Timor is funding reconstruction projects such as a tuberculosis clinic. For traumatised victims of rape and other forms of violence, the Hotung Institute is supporting the work of Fokupers, a women's and human rights organisation in Dili.