Editorial | Threats against Hong Kong judge deserve to be widely condemned by all
- City’s judiciary must be free to continue to decide cases independently, without fear or favour, and judges backed no matter which political camp they have upset
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung provided a timely reminder on Saturday that Hong Kong judges administer justice “without fear or favour”. He was speaking in general terms, but his comments came a day after a District Court judge had been the victim of threatening and intimidating telephone calls.
Such attempts to instil fear in those who preside over the city’s courts should not be tolerated. The perpetrators of this cowardly crime must be swiftly arrested. Attacks on the city’s judges aim to undermine their independence and weaken the rule of law.
The calls were made to the office of Judge Amanda Woodcock. She had earlier that day imposed sentences on media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and nine other opposition figures of up to 18 months in jail for their part in an illegal rally in 2019.
Police are investigating the threatening calls. The sentences have been welcomed by some and seen as too harsh by others.
But no matter how controversial the case, the attempt to intimidate Woodcock is disgraceful. Foreign judges have at times come under fire from the pro-establishment camp.
This time, the criticism is coming from the other side of the political divide. Woodcock was born in Hong Kong, studied law in England, and has served with the judiciary since 1998.