Hong Kong’s chief justice hits out over ‘repeated’ attacks on city’s judicial independence

Andrew Cheung says ‘gratuitous’ questioning of judiciary’s independence damages rule of law

Day before the speech, District Court judge received threatening phone calls after she sentenced prominent opposition figures

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Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, seen here in February, says judges serve ‘without fear or favour, self-interest or deceit’. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 8:45pm, 29 May 2021Updated: 11:28pm, 29 May 2021

Hong Kong’s top judge has warned against “repeated and gratuitous” questioning of the city’s judicial independence, calling on senior counsel to speak up and defend the reputation of the courts at home and abroad.

Shortly after Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung made the remarks on Saturday, the Bar Association and Law Society denounced threats targeting judges, pointing to attempts to intimidate District Court judge Amanda Woodcock on Friday after she sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and other prominent opposition figures for their roles in an illegal rally.

Delivering a speech at the Court of Final Appeal as he appointed four new senior counsel, Cheung said judges served “without fear or favour, self-interest or deceit”.

Jimmy Lai, seen here in February, was handed another jail term of 14 months on Friday over his role in an illegal protest. Photo Sam Tsang

“The judicial power is exercised independently by the courts, not subject to any interference,” he said. “Repeated and gratuitous questioning of the judiciary’s independence, whether domestic or from abroad, which is based on nothing but disagreement with court decisions, is damaging to the rule of law and maintenance of public confidence in our courts.”

But he made no reference to the threats against Woodcock in the speech.